Signal processing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A method of delivering audio or video mass medium programming to at least one subscriber in a network, said network having at least one programming origination station and a subscriber station, said subscriber station for receiving programming from an intermediate transmission station and outputting information to said at least one subscriber at an output device, said method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting, from said at least one programming origination station, said audio or video mass medium programming to said intermediate transmission station;
transmitting, from said at least one programming origination station, to said intermediate transmission station control information associated with said audio or video mass medium programming;
controlling said intermediate transmission station based on determining the composition of said control information, said step of controlling comprising;
storing said audio or video mass medium programming for retransmission at said intermediate transmission station;
generating a program instruction set at said intermediate transmitter station;
linking said program instruction set to said audio or video mass medium programming at said intermediate transmission station; and
transmitting said audio or video mass medium programming and said program instruction set from said intermediate transmission station to said subscriber station;
receiving said audio or video mass medium programming and said program instruction set at said subscriber station;
controlling said subscriber station by processing said program instruction set, said step of controlling comprising;
selecting at least one of (i) a storage device and (ii) an output device as a destination device at said subscriber station; and
communicating said audio or video mass medium programming to said selected destination device for delivery to said at least one subscriber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of delivering audio or video mass medium programming to at least one subscriber in a network, said network having at least one programming origination station and a subscriber station, said subscriber station for receiving programming from an intermediate transmission station and outputting information to said at least one subscriber at an output device, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting, from said at least one programming origination station, said audio or video mass medium programming to said intermediate transmission station; transmitting, from said at least one programming origination station, to said intermediate transmission station control information associated with said audio or video mass medium programming; controlling said intermediate transmission station based on determining the composition of said control information, said step of controlling comprising; storing said audio or video mass medium programming for retransmission at said intermediate transmission station; generating a program instruction set at said intermediate transmitter station; linking said program instruction set to said audio or video mass medium programming at said intermediate transmission station; and transmitting said audio or video mass medium programming and said program instruction set from said intermediate transmission station to said subscriber station; receiving said audio or video mass medium programming and said program instruction set at said subscriber station; controlling said subscriber station by processing said program instruction set, said step of controlling comprising; selecting at least one of (i) a storage device and (ii) an output device as a destination device at said subscriber station; and communicating said audio or video mass medium programming to said selected destination device for delivery to said at least one subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of delivering audio or video mass medium programming to at least one subscriber in a network, said network including at least one programming origination station and a subscriber station, said subscriber station for receiving audio or video mass medium programming from said intermediate transmission station and outputting information to said at least one subscriber at an output device based on said received audio or video mass medium programming, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving said audio or video mass medium programming and control information at said intermediate transmission station from said at least one programming origination station; generating at said intermediate transmitter station a program instruction set that includes information that designates said audio or video mass medium programming based on determining the composition of said control information, said program instruction set for execution at said subscriber station to select at least one of (i) a storage device and (ii) an output device as a destination device, and communicate said audio or video mass medium programming to said selected destination device for delivery to said at least one subscriber; linking said audio or video mass medium programming and said program instruction set at said intermediate transmission station; and transmitting said audio or video mass medium programming and said program instruction set from said intermediate transmission station to said subscriber station.
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7. A method of communicating audio or video mass medium programming in a communications network, said communications network including at least one origination station and a plurality of intermediate transmission stations, each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations having a receiver, at least one selective transmission device operatively connected to said receiver for transferring programming to a transmitter, an automatic control unit operatively connected to said selective transmission device, a detector operatively connected to said automatic control unit for detecting at least one signal, and said automatic control unit being programmed to perform in a station specific fashion, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting from said at least one origination station to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations a plurality of units of audio or video mass medium programming, said plurality of units of programming including a plurality of retransmission control signals; transmitting said at least one signal for comparison from said at least one origination station to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations; receiving said plurality of units of audio or video mass medium programming at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations; detecting said plurality of retransmission control signals at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations; and receiving said at least one signal for comparison at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations; passing said retransmission control signals and said at least one signal for comparison to said automatic control unit at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations; comparing, under control of said automatic control unit at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations, said at least one signal for comparison with programming schedule information stored at each of said plurality of intermediate stations in accordance with said plurality of retransmission control signal; storing, at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations, at least one unit of said plurality of units of audio or video mass medium programming based on the result of said step of comparing; and retransmitting, at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations, at least unit some of said plurality of units of audio or video mass medium programming, said at least some of said plurality of units of audio and video mass medium programming retransmitted at times determined by said automatic control unit processing said plurality of retransmission control signals; and
said at least some of said plurality of units of audio and video mass medium programming retransmitted in an order determined by said automatic control unit processing said plurality of retransmission control signals, two of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations retransmitting said plurality of units of audio or video mass medium programming independently at said determined time and in said determined order in accordance with said automatic control unit programmed to perform in said station specific fashion, wherein each of said determined times and said determined orders are different for each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification