Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,769,170 B1
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1981
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Harvey, John Christopher, Cuddihy, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH DIEU T
• Application Number:
  US08/446,431
• Time in Patent Office: 5,552 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/3.3, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/7, 48/2, 48/3, 48/4, 48/6, 48/7, 48/8, 48/9, 48/10, 48/11, 48/12, 48/13, 48/14, 48/15, 48/16, 48/17, 484/23, 484/29, 484/30, 484/32, 484/34, 484/35, 484/60, 484/61, 484/65, 484/67, 484/68, 484/73, 484/74, 484/77, 484/78, 487/25, 487/34, 380/211, 713/163, 709245-247, 370/270, 725 27- 28, 725 31- 32
• US Class Current: 380/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/071 containing electro-optic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 : Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 : comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 : Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 : involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 : Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 : Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 : Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 : Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 : for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 : home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 : external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 : involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 : Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 : involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 : Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 : Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 : Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/45 : Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4888 : for displaying teletext characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/633 : Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 : OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 : for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/084 : with signal insertion during the horizontal blanking interval only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 : Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 : Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.

Claims

1. A method of processing signals to select at least one datum with independent receiver specific relevance at a receiver station and deliver at said receiver station a receiver specific programming presentation, said receiver station having a computer and an output device, wherein said computer has a memory location for storing data and said output device outputs at least one of video, audio, and hardcopy, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission from a remote station and passing at least a portion of said information transmission to said computer, said information transmission including data and at least one instruct signal;

detecting said at least one instruct signal in said information transmission;

processing said data at said computer and causing said computer to select a plurality of subscriber data by processing at said receiver station said at least one instruct signal received in said information transmission from said remote station;

storing said selected plurality of subscriber data at said memory location at said receiver station;

receiving mass medium programming from a programming source;

causing said computer to select subscriber information to output as a result of processing at said receiver station said selected and stored plurality of subscriber data; and

outputting at least one of a simultaneous presentation and a sequential presentation of said mass medium programming and said selected subscriber information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

programming said receiver station to;

(1) process one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission;

(2) select a first datum communicated in said one of said broadcast transmission and said cablecast transmission; and

(3) communicate said selected first datum to said computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of outputting said at least one of said simultaneous presentation and said sequential presentation of said mass medium programming and said selected subscriber information is performed in response to a command, said method further comprising at least one of the steps of:

inputting a subscriber command at said receiver station; and

detecting at said receiver station a command communicated from said remote station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said mass medium programming comprises at least one of television programming, radio programming, print programming, and a portion of multimedia programming.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of selecting said subscriber information is performed in response to a first instruct signal communicated from said programming source, said method further comprising the step of:

programming said receiver station to process said first instruct signal communicated from said programming source that communicates said mass medium programming.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of said steps of:

processing, selecting subscriber information, and outputting is performed in accordance with a second instruct signal communicated from said programming source, said method further comprising the step of;

programming said receiver station to at least one of locate and identify said second instruct signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of storing said selected plurality of subscriber data occurs before the commencement of said step of receiving said mass medium programming from said programming source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating at least one subscriber datum to serve as a source of said subscriber information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected plurality of subscriber data include a datum of at least one of price, portfolio holding, economic conditions, monetary value, and financial interest.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a series of locally generated images is outputted during the course of said mass medium programming, said method further comprising one of the steps of:

outputting said selected subscriber information in at least one of said series of images; and

outputting said selected subscriber information in response to a second instruct signal.

11. A method of controlling at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of said plurality of receiver stations including one of a broadcast signal receiver and a cablecast signal receiver, at least one processor, at least one stored subscriber datum with independent receiver specific relevance, and a signal detector, wherein said signal detector is adapted to receive signals from one of a broadcast signal and a cablecast signal, and wherein said at least one processor is programmed to respond to signals from said signal detector, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving at either a broadcast transmitter station or a cablecast transmitter station at least one instruct signal which is effective at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to cause said at least one processor to select said at least one subscriber datum, said at least one subscriber datum being processed at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to output at least one of simultaneous presentation and sequential presentation with mass medium programming;

(2) transferring said at least one instruct signal from said broadcast transmitter station or cablecast transmitter station to a transmitter;

(3) receiving at least one control signal at said broadcast transmitter station or cablecast transmitter station, wherein said at least one control signal identifies at least one specific receiver station device to which said at least one instruct signal is addressed; and

(4) transferring said at least one control signal from said onc of said broadcast transmitter station or cablecast transmitter station to said transmitter, said broadcast transmitter station or cablecast transmitter station transmitting said at least one instruct signal and said at least one control signal to said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said at least one instruct signal and said at least one control signal is embedded in the non-visible portion of a television signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one control signal identifies at least two of said plurality of receiver stations asynchronously and each of said identified at least two of said plurality of receiver stations receives and responds to said at least one instruct signal asynchronously.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a switch communicates signals selectively from a first receiver and at least one of a memory and a recorder to a first transmitter, said method further comprising at least one of:

detecting a first signal which is effective at a first transmitter station to instruct communication;

determining a specific signal source from which to communicate a second signal to said first transmitter;

controlling said switch to communicate said second signal to said first transmitter in response to said first signal which is effective at said first transmitter station to instruct communication;

controlling said switch to communicate said second signal from said specific signal source; and

controlling said switch to communicate to said at least one of said memory and said recorder a third signal which is effective at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to instruct.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein a controller controls a switch to communicate to a first transmitter a selected signal, said method further comprising at least one of:

detecting a first signal which is effective at a first transmitter station to instruct transmission;

inputting to said controller a second signal which is effective to control said switch;

controlling said switch to communicate at least one signal according to a transmission schedule;

controlling said switch to communicate from a specific one of a plurality of signal sources; and

controlling said switch to communicate a third signal to a selected one of a plurality of transmitters.

16. The method of claim 11, said method further comprising at least one of:

transmitting to said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations at least one of data that;

(a) designate at least one of a time of transmission and a channel of transmission of said at least one instruct signal; and

(b) specify at least one of a title of and a subject matter included in at least one of said mass medium programming and data associated with said at least one instruct signal; and

transmitting to said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations a first control signal to cause said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to tune to one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission including a specific instruct signal.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one control signal includes downloadable code targeted to said at least one processor at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations, said downloadable code programming a way in which said at least one processor responds to said at least one instruct signal.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations is one of adapted to detect the presence of said at least one control signal and programmed to respond to said at least one instruct signal on the basis of a location of a first signal in an information transmission, said method further comprising the step of:

causing at least a portion of one of said at least one control signal and said at least one instruct signal to be transmitted in said location of said first signal in said information transmission.

19. A method of processing signals to deliver a receiver specific programming presentation at a receiver station, said receiver station having a computer and an output device, with said computer having a memory location for storing data and said output device outputting at least one of video, audio, and hardcopy, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a data transmission containing at least one embedded signal from a remote data source and passing said data transmission to said computer;

processing said data transmission at said computer;

causing said computer to select at said receiver station one or more data of interest from said data transmission in response to said at least one embedded signal;

storing said selected one or more data of interest at said memory location at said receiver station;

receiving mass medium programming from a programming source;

causing said computer to select designated information to output, said designated information being the product of processing at least a portion of said selected and stored data of interest;

detecting an instruct signal; and

outputting a simultaneous or sequential presentation of said mass medium programming and said designated information in response to said instruct signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of programming said receiver station to process a broadcast or cablecast transmission, select a datum communicated in said broadcast or cablecast transmission, and communicate said selected datum to said computer.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising one or more of the steps of:

inputting a subscriber command at said receiver station; and

detecting at said receiver station a command communicated from a remote station.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said mass medium programming comprises at least one of television programming, radio programming, print programming, and a portion of multimedia programming.