Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,797,717 B1
• Filed: 05/23/1995
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• 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): BATES, KEVIN T
• Application Number:
  US08/447,496
• Time in Patent Office: 5,593 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, 455/2, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/13, 348/468, 348/1, 348/2, 348/3, 725/60, 725/131, 725/38, 705/14.4, 705/14.42, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 725/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4622 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 21/818 OS software

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 video signals at a receiver station based on at least one information transmission, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving information content and a first control signal in said at least one information transmission at said receiver station, said information content describing at least one of a product and a service;

generating a benefit datum in response to said first control signal by processing subscriber specific data at said receiver station;

delivering said information content and said benefit datum at an output device at said receiver station, wherein said information content and said benefit datum explain a benefit of acquiring said product or service specific to said subscriber;

receiving a subscriber input at said receiver station after said step of delivering; and

controlling said receiver station based on said subscriber input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said subscriber specific data at a computer at said receiver station.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said subscriber input modifies said subscriber specific data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said information content comprises a commercial.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said commercial is stored at said receiver station prior to said step of delivering.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of delivering comprises delivering said commercial from storage at said receiver station.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of delivering is performed based on a schedule.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said schedule is stored at said receiver station.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said commercial is selected from a plurality of commercials based on said subscriber specific data.

10. A method of communicating recommendations to a subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:

storing subscriber specific data of said subscriber at a subscriber station;

receiving at said subscriber station at least one first instruct signal which is effective to cause said subscriber station to generate and present a first subscriber specific recommendation to said subscriber based on said stored subscriber specific data;

generating said first subscriber specific recommendation based on said stored subscriber specific data in response to processing said at least one first instruct signal, wherein said first subscriber specific recommendation does not exist prior to receiving said at least one first instruct signal at said subscriber station;

receiving subscriber input at said subscriber station responsive to said first subscriber specific recommendation; and

transmitting information to a remote station based on said subscriber input.

11. The method of claim 10, said method further comprising receiving at said subscriber station at least one second instruct signal which is effective to cause said subscriber station to present a second subscriber specific recommendation based on said subscriber input and said stored subscriber specific data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said instruct signal is received from a first transmitter, and said subscriber specific recommendation is further based on information specific to said first transmitter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first transmitter receives at least a portion of said instruct signal from a second transmitter, and said subscriber specific recommendation is further based on information specific to said second transmitter.

14. A method of processing signals at a receiver station to deliver a series of presentations, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving at said receiver station a first control signal and at least one of video and audio in a first transmission;

(b) generating first information by processing data at said receiver station in response to said first control signal;

(c) delivering a first presentation including said at least one of video and audio and said generated information at an output device at said receiver station;

(d) receiving a subscriber response to said delivered presentation;

(e) transmitting said subscriber response to a data collection station;

(f) receiving a second control signal based on said transmitted subscriber response and responses from other subscribers;

(g) generating second information at said receiver station in response to said second control signal, and

(h) delivering a second presentation including said second information at said output device at said receiver station.

15. A method of delivering a receiver specific output at a video receiver station to explain a benefit of an offer made to a specific user through said video receiver station including:

receiving at least one information transmission at said video receiver station, said at least one information transmission including video, generally applicable information, and a control signal;

storing said generally applicable information and said control signal at said video receiver station;

outputting said video at a video monitor;

selecting at least one receiver specific benefit datum to output from said generally applicable information in accordance with said control signal; and

outputting said selected at least one receiver specific benefit datum in a time of specific relevance during said outputting of said video in response to at least a second control signal, wherein said outputting of said video and said outputting of said selected at least one receiver specific benefit datum explain said benefit of said offer to said specific user of said video receiver station.