Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,810,115 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1981
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Personalized Media Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Cuddihy, James William, Harvey, John Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Brian Q
• Application Number:
  US08/459,216
• Time in Patent Office: 5,604 Days
• Field of Search: 725 27- 38, 725/49, 725135-142, 725/145, 380210-212, 380/218, 709245-247, 370/270
• US Class Current: 725/38
• 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 to selectively receive television signals from a network at a receiver station control equipment based on said signals and control receipt of television programs, said receiver station having a receiver, a processor and a storage device, wherein said processor selectively receives information from said signals from said network, said network having a multichannel transmission format with transmitted units of television programs, said method comprising the steps of:

storing information identifying an interest;

receiving said transmitted units of television programming in a multichannel television signal from said network, said multichannel television signal having units of television programming occurring concurrently and sequentially on a plurality of channels, each of said units of television programming having an identifying code transmitted therewith;

executing a program at said processor in said receiver station to monitor each of said signals units of television programming in said multichannel television signal;

monitoring each of said units of television programming from said network to identify characteristics of said units of television programming, based on executing said program;

detecting the transmitted codes in said units of television programming in at least a portion of said multichannel television signal;

comparing said identified characteristics of said units of television programming from said step of monitoring with characteristics such as user modifiable parameters and predetermined parameters stored at said receiver station;

selecting at least one of viewable and audible information from said units of television programming for further processing based on the outcome of said step of comparing;

identifying channels transmitting units of television programming including said selected at least one of viewable and audible information and corresponding to said interest, said step of identifying being performed based on said step of detecting;

tuning to receive said identified units of television programming corresponding to said interest based on said step of identifying to present a series of units of television programming from said multichannel television signal;

processing said at least one of viewable and audible information from said identified units of television programming;

controlling one or more receiver station peripheral equipment based on said step of processing, and

instructing a processor to play or record said identified units of television programming based on said step of comparing at said receiver station,

wherein said units of television programming are provided in said multichannel television signal and said identifying codes designating said identifying characteristics are processed under control of said executed program to perform said step of comparing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of passing said at least one of viewable and audible information to a storage device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said identifying characteristics are data encoded in a video signal of said transmitted units of television programming.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said identifying characteristics include at least one of a television programming identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying characteristics include a command directed to said receiver station peripheral equipment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said peripheral equipment includes a telephone.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said peripheral equipment includes an electro-mechanical device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said peripheral equipment includes a heating device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said peripheral equipment includes a cooling device.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said peripheral equipment is a product output device.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein said units of television programming include an instruction which programs said receiver station peripheral equipment to respond to said command.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said units of television programming include an instruction which programs said receiver station to process a command, said method further comprising the step of passing said instruction to a programmable device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of passing said command to said programmable device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein an instruction programs said receiver station to respond to a command, further comprising selecting one of said instruction and said command.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising passing said instruction and subsequently passing said command.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said controlling step comprises one of outputting programming and generating a receiver specific signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said programming is outputted at a video monitor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said receiver specific signal is outputted at a video monitor.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein receiver station peripheral equipment includes a transmitter and said command controls said transmitter.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said programming and data are outputted to a user.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said storage device comprises a reprogrammable memory and said instruction is passed to said storage device.

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

receiving a user input from a user interface at said receiver station to modify said characteristics stored at said receiver station for use in said step of comparing.

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

modifying said characteristics stored at said receiver station for use in said step of comparing based on previous user selection of program topics.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitted units programs include a television newscast and each story in said newscast has an associated identifying code to identify the topical areas of said story, said method further comprising the step of:

comparing said identifying code of a topic area associated with said news story with parameters stored at said receiver station.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said units of television programming include commercials having an associated identifying code to identify each said commercial, said identified units of television programming including a selected commercial, said method further comprising the steps of:

recording said output of said selected commercial identified in said step of identifying; and

reporting said output of said selected commercial from said receiver station to an external data collection station.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying codes are transmitted on a radio frequency carrier wave over said network.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying codes are transmitted on an RF carrier and said network is a broadband cable network.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying codes are transmitted on a carrier wave and said network is a satellite transmission network.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying codes are transmitted as signals embedded in the non-visual portion of a television signal.

30. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing at said receiver station a program schedule identifying at least one of program content, channel, frequency of transmission, and time of transmission for said identified units of television programming.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of instructing instructs said processor to play said identified units of television programming by outputting said identified units of television programming to a display device at said receiver station.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of instructing instructs said processor to record said identified units of television programming.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a control signal in said at least one of viewable and audible information; and

controlling said one or more receiver station peripheral equipment in accordance with said control signal.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a record of a function performed by said one or more receiver station peripheral equipment in consequence of said control signal.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more receiver station peripheral equipment include one of a television storage device and a television display device.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more receiver station peripheral equipment include a computer.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more receiver station peripheral equipment include a subscriber input device.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitted units of television programming include a first program, said method further comprising the steps of:

displaying said received first program on a television display;

receiving a subscriber reaction to information included in said first program, wherein said information identifying an interest is based on said subscriber reaction;

and said identified units of television programming supplement said first program.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said identified units of television programming include information related to said first program, wherein said step of instructing said processor instructs said processor to play said identified units of television programming including outputting said information at a first output device.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said identified units of television programming comprises digital information, wherein said step of instructing said processor to play said identified units of television programming includes controlling printing a copy of said digital information.

41. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

under control of said processor manipulating a datum by performing at least one of;

(1) processing said datum in response to a control instruction in said identified units of television programming;

(2) receiving said datum in said identified units of television programming and recording said datum on said storage medium; and

(3) receiving said datum in said identified units of television programming and communicating said datum to an output device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said receiver station communicates a second code which designates said datum to a remote station, said method further comprising one of the steps of:

programming said receiver station to perform at least one of processing and outputting said datum based on said code; and

billing a subscriber based on said code.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said datum is embedded in a non-visible portion of a television signal.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein information evidencing one of availability of said datum, use of said datum, and usage of said datum is communicated to a remote data collection station, said method further comprising the step of selecting evidence information that designates at least one of:

(1) a mass medium program;

said use of said datum;

a transmission station;

said receiver station;

a network;

(2) said use of said datum;

(3) a transmission station;

(4) said receiver station;

(5) a network;

(6) a broadcast station;

(7) a channel on a cable system;

(8) a time of transmission;

(9) a unique identifier datum;

(10) a source or supplier of said datum;

(11) one of a distributor, and an advertisement; and

(12) an indication of an obligation to make payment.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein said transmitted units of television programs incorporates downloadable code, said method further comprising the steps of:

communicating said downloadable code to said processor and performing, based on said downloadable code, at least one of;

(1) receiving a signal including said datum;

(2) actuating said output device, wherein said output device is one of a video output device, an audio output device, and a print output device to output said datum;

(3) decrypting said datum;

(4) controlling a selective transmission device to communicate said datum to one of said memory and said output device;

(5) generating a receiver specific datum by processing said datum; and

(6) delivering processed information of said datum at said output device in one of simultaneous and sequential manner with a mass medium program.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein said datum is received in a data portion of a multichannel signal, said method further comprising the step of:

decoding said data portion of said multichannel signal.