Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,801,304 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1995
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1981
• Status: Expired

• 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:
  US08/449,263
• Time in Patent Office: 5,599 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/6.2, 348/1, 348/4, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 380/10, 380/20, 380/211, 725/86, 725/104, 725/136, 725/139
• US Class Current: 380/211
• 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 for controlling the decryption of programming at a subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving programming, said programming having a first encrypted digital control signal portion and an encrypted digital information portion;

detecting said first encrypted digital control signal portion of said programming;

passing said first encrypted digital control signal portion of said programming to a decryptor at said subscriber station;

decrypting said first encrypted digital control signal portion of said programming using said decryptor at said subscriber station;

passing said encrypted digital information portion of said programming to said decryptor;

decrypting said encrypted digital information portion of said programming using said decryptor at said subscriber station based on the decrypted control signal portion; and

presenting said programming.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said digital programming is received at said subscriber station in one channel of a multichannel signal and a second control signal portion used to decrypt said digital programming is included in said multichannel signal outside said one channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber station detects, in a transmission channel including said digital programming, a second control signal portion of used to decrypt the first control signal portion.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein programming is received in a transmission of a multichannel signal separated in the frequency domain.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said transmission is a cable system broadcast.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein programming is received in a transmission of a multichannel signal separated in the time domain.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a transmission of said programming is generated at a local data source.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said local data source comprises a VCR.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said local data source comprises a laser disk.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming includes a portion of a television program.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming and a signal necessary for decryption are received from difference sources.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of contacting a remote transmitter station to receive said one of said transmission and said signal necessary for decryption.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a signal necessary for decryption is communicated by telephone.

15. The method as in claim 1, or 14, wherein said digital programming further includes encrypted video.

16. The method as in claim 1, or 14, wherein said subscriber station stores information that evidences processing said digital programming.

18. The method as in claims 1, or 14, wherein said digital programming includes computer data.

14. A method of controlling a remote transmitter station to communicate program material to a subscriber station and controlling said subscriber station to process or output digital programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said remote transmitter station a first control signal which operates at the remote transmitter station to control communication of said digital programming and one or more first instruct signals, wherein said one or more first instruct signals operate at the subscriber station to decrypt one or more digital second instruct signals;

receiving at said remote transmitter station said one or more digital second instruct signals which operate at the subscriber station to decrypt said digital programming; and

transmitting from said remote transmitter station to said subscriber station an information transmission comprising said digital programming, said one or more first instruct signals and said one or more digital second instruct signals, said one or more first instruct signals being transmitted in accordance with said first control signal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the subscriber station detects, in a transmission channel for transmitting the digital programming, a second control signal used to decrypt the first control signal, and wherein the second control signal is encrypted, and wherein the second control signal is decrypted in order to enable decryption of the first control signal.

19. A method of processing signals at a receiver station to deliver an output to supplement mass medium programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said mass medium programming at said receiver station from a mass medium programming source and outputting said mass medium programming at said at least one output device;

receiving a broadcast or cablecast information transmission at said receiver station, said broadcast or cablecast information transmission including one or more instruct signals and encrypted information to supplement said mass medium programming;

detecting said one or more instruct signals in said broadcast or cablecast information transmission and passing said one or more instruct signals to a processor; and

controlling said processor based on said one or more instruct signals, said step of controlling comprising the steps of;

implementing a new technique of decrypting;

directing said encrypted information to supplement said mass medium programming to be decrypted in response to said new technique of decrypting; and

directing said decrypted information to supplement said mass medium programming to one or more output devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said information to supplement said mass medium programming includes video, audio, or text, said method further comprising actuating a video, audio, or print output device to output said information to supplement said mass medium programming.

21. A method for controlling decryption of digital programming at a receiver station, said receiver station having a receiver for receiving a point-to-multipoint information transmission, a digital detector operatively connected to said receiver for detecting a plurality of signal types, a processor operatively connected to said digital detector for locating or identifying a specific control signal, a plurality of decryptors operatively connected to said receiver or said processor and with said processor programmed to control at least one of said plurality of decryptors, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a code designating at least a portion of said digital programming;

receiving an information transmission that includes said digital programming and a digital control signal;

separating said information transmission into a plurality of portions;

passing said plurality of portions selectively to said plurality of decryptors;

controlling said plurality of decryptors based on said code;

first decrypting said digital control signal using said plurality of decryptors at said receiver station;

second decrypting said digital programming using said plurality of decryptors at said receiver station based on said first decrypting; and

presenting said digital programming to a viewer or listener.

22. A method of providing digital enabling information to a receiver station from a first remote source, said digital enabling information for use at the receiver station in decrypting a mass medium program presentation, said method comprising the steps of:

storing digital enabling information at said first remote source;

receiving at said first remote source a query from said receiver station;

transmitting said digital enabling information which is effective to enable decryption from said first remote source to said receiver station in response to said step of receiving said query, said receiver station storing at least some of said transmitted enabling information;

transmitting from a second remote source to said receiver station an encrypted digital mass medium presentation signal which is decrypted on the basis of said stored at least some of said digital enabling information to present said mass medium programming presentation.

23. A method of processing signals at a receiver station, said receiver station having a receiver, a digital detector operatively connected to said receiver for detecting encrypted digital data, a decryptor operatively connected to said digital detector for decrypting said encrypted digital data, and a controller operatively connected to said digital detector or said decryptor for controlling said decryptor, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of signals including digital programming and inputting at least some of said plurality of signals to said digital detector;

detecting said encrypted digital data in said at least some of said plurality of signals in accordance with a varying pattern of timing or location and passing said detected encrypted digital data to said decryptor;

controlling said decryptor to alter its decryption pattern or technique on the basis of information included in said detected encrypted digital data; and

decrypting at least a portion of said digital programming using a selected decryption pattern or technique based on said step of detecting in order to provide a decrypted output of programming to a viewer or listener.

24. A method for controlling decryption of digital television or computer programming at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a procedure for locating or identifying a specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal in a plurality of signal types;

receiving an information transmission that includes a plurality of signal types and at least one unit of digital television or computer programming;

passing at least some of said information transmission to a detector;

detecting data of said plurality of signal types and transferring said detected data to a processor;

identifying or locating said specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal by processing said detected data in accordance with said stored information; and

decrypting at least some of said unit of digital television or computer programming on the basis of said identified or located specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said unit of digital television or computer programming is a channel of television programming, said method further comprising the step of communicating some of a selected channel of television programming to said decryptor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal identifies or designates said channel of television programming.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said information transmission includes a plurality of concurrently transmitted units of digital television or computer programming, said method further comprising the steps of:

selecting a specific unit of digital television or computer programming; and

decrypting said selected specific unit of digital television or computer programming on the basis of said specific instruct-to-decrypt signal, wherein said specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal identifies or designates said specific unit of digital television or computer programming.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said unit of digital television or computer programming is a television channel and said specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal is embedded in said television channel.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein said unit of digital television or computer programming is a television channel and said specific digital instruct-to-decrypt signal is located in a portion of said information transmission that is outside said television channel.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said information transmission includes a plurality of concurrently transmitted units of digital television or computer programming and two of said plurality of digital instruct-to-decrypt signals control decryption of different ones of said plurality of concurrently transmitted units of television or computer programming.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising one of the steps of:

processing a selected analog channel of television programming; and

processing a selected channel of television programming including a digital television signal.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said unit of digital television or computer programming comprises a television signal comprising digital video and digital audio, said method further comprising the step of programming said receiver station to process said digital television signal.