Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,818,778 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• 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): Ortiz Criado; Jorge L
• Application Number:
  US08/479,374
• Time in Patent Office: 5,613 Days
• Field of Search: 348/4, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/13, 348/34, 348/432, 348/499, 348/460, 348/461, 455/3.1, 455/4.2
• US Class Current: 725/139
• 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 generating a television display at a receiver station, said receiver station comprising a television monitor for displaying television programming and a processor for generating and communicating a video image to said television monitor, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a television signal, said television signal including digital data;

detecting said digital data and passing said detected digital data to said processor;

storing at a memory operatively connected to said processor a computer program included in a first portion of said detected and passed digital data, wherein said computer program includes a program instruction set;

generating and communicating said video image to said television monitor in response to and based on said stored program instruction set;

inputting a clear-and-continue signal to said processor in response to a second portion of said detected and passed digital data; and

controlling said processor based on said clear-and-continue signal to determine a particular clear-and-continue address of instructions of said program instruction set, to jump to said address, and to execute clear-and-continue instructions at said address, wherein under control of said clear-and-continue instructions said processor clears at least a portion of an output memory and generates and communicates video image information to said television monitor based on said clear-and-continue instructions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a processor interrupt signal causes said processor to respond to said clear-and-continue signal, said method further comprising the step of:

inputting said clear and continue signal to interrupt said processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said clear-and-continue signal is inputted to said processor by a controller, said method further comprising the steps of:

inputting data detected in said television signal to said controller; and

communicating signals from said controller to said processor based on said inputted data.

4. A method of generating a television display at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, each of said plurality of receiver stations having a television monitor for displaying television programming and a processor for generating and communicating a video image to said television monitor, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a television signal including digital data including a computer program having a program instruction set;

(b) receiving a clear-and-continue signal;

(c) receiving a control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said clear-and-continue signal to a transmitter;

(d) transmitting said television signal to said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, said program instruction set effective to generate and communicate said television display to said television monitor at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations; and

(e) transmitting said clear-and-continue signal, said clear-and-continue signal effective at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to control said processor to determine a particular clear-and-continue address of instructions of said program instruction set, to jump to said address, and to execute clear-and-continue instructions at said address, wherein under control of said clear-and-continue instructions said processor clears at least a portion of an output memory, and generates and communicates video image information to said television monitor of said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations based on said clear-and-continue instructions.

5. A method of generating a television display at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, each of said plurality of receiver stations having a television monitor for displaying television programming and a processor for generating and communicating a video image to said television monitor, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a television signal including digital data including a computer program having a program instruction set;

(b) receiving and storing a clear-and-continue signal;

(c) causing said television signal to be communicated to a transmitter, thereby to transmit said television signal to said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, said program instruction set effective to generate and communicate said television display to said television monitor at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations; and

(d) causing said clear-and-continue signal to be communicated to a transmitter at a specific time and transmit said clear-and-continue signal, said clear-and-continue signal effective at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to control said processor to determine a particular clear-and-continue address of instructions of said program instruction set, to jump to said address, and to execute clear-and-continue instructions at said address, wherein under control of said clear-and-continue instructions said processor clears at least a portion of an output memory, and generates and communicates video image information of said television display to said television monitor of said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations based on said clear-and-continue instructions.

6. A method of generating a television display in a receiver station, said receiver station including at least one processor for generating a television video image and a television monitor for displaying transmitted television programming and said television video image, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a broadcast or cablecast transmission including said transmitted television programming and an information transmission, said information transmission further including a program instruction set;

detecting said information transmission in said broadcast or cablecast transmission;

passing said detected information transmission to said at least one processor;

causing said processor to execute said program instruction set;

receiving a clear-and-continue signal from said broadcast or cablecast information transmission;

causing said at least one processor, in response to said clear-and-continue signal, to interrupt execution of said program instruction set, to store information regarding resumption of said program instruction set, and to jump to and execute clear-and-continue instructions in said program instruction set, said clear-and-continue instructions causing said at least one processor to clear a stored video image, to generate said television video image, to store said generated television image and to resume execution of said program instruction set in accordance with said stored information; and

displaying said generated television image with said transmitted television programming.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said clear-and-continue instructions causing said processor to clear a stored video image further cause said processor to set said generated television video image to a specific color.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said received television programming includes only part of a television program, said method further comprising the steps of:

generating a balance of said television program; and

synchronizing delivery of said received part of said television program and said generated balance of said television program at least one of said television monitor and a television storage device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a memory is operatively connected to said at least one of said television monitor and said television storage device, and wherein said step of synchronizing further comprises placing said generated balance of said television program at said memory and clearing at least some of said memory.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a memory is operatively connected to said at least one of said television monitor and said television storage device, said generated balance of said television program includes a receiver specific datum, and wherein said step of synchronizing further comprises placing said receiver specific datum at said memory and clearing at least some of said memory.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one processor performs at least one of said steps of generating said balance and synchronizing delivery, and wherein said method further comprises the step of detecting processor instructions in said information transmission which operate to generate said balance or synchronize said delivery.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of generating said balance of said television program comprises computing said balance of said television program.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a controller communicates said processor instructions to said at least one processor.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein a controller controls said at least one processor to perform at least one of said steps of generating said balance and synchronizing delivery, said method further comprising the step of communicating said clear-and-continue instructions from said controller to said at least one processor.

15. A method of generating a television display in at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, each of said plurality of receiver stations having a processor for generating a television video image and a television monitor for displaying transmitted television programming and said television video image, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from a transmitter station a television transmission including said television programming and an information transmission, said information transmission including a program instruction set for execution by said processor at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to control display of said transmitted television programming and said television video image;

receiving, in said transmitter station, a clear-and-continue signal;

receiving, in said transmitter station, a control signal which operates at said transmitter station to communicate said clear-and-continue signal to a transmitter; and

transmitting said clear-and-continue signal, said clear-and-continue signal effective in said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to cause said processor to interrupt execution of said program instruction set, to store information regarding resumption of said program instruction set, and to jump to and execute clear-and-continue instructions in said program instruction set, said clear-and-continue instructions effective to cause said processor to clear a stored video image, to generate said television video image, to store said generated television video image and to resume execution of said program instruction set in accordance with said stored information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

originating a first instruction specifying a control function to be executed;

originating a second instruction specifying a data characteristic selected from the group consisting of structure, length, and format; and

organizing said first and second instructions in a sequence, said sequence comprising said clear-and-continue signal.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of transmitting data to be displayed based on said clear-and-continue signal.

18. A method of generating a television display in at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, each of said plurality of receiver stations having a processor for generating a television video image and a television monitor for displaying transmitted television programming and said television video image, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting from a transmitter station a television transmission including said television programming and an information transmission, said information transmission including a program instruction set for execution by said processor at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to control display of said transmitted television programming and said television video image;

receiving, in said transmitter station, a clear-and-continue signal;

storing, in said transmitter station, said received clear-and-continue signal; and

causing said received and stored clear-and-continue signal to be communicated to a transmitter at a specific time, thereby to transmit said received and stored clear-and-continue signal, said received and stored clear-and-continue signal effective in said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to cause said processor to interrupt execution of said program instruction set, to store information regarding resumption of said program instruction set, and to jump to and execute clear-and-continue instructions in said program instruction set, said clear-and-continue instructions effective to cause said processor to clear a stored video image, to generate said television video image, to store said generated television video image and to resume execution of said program instruction set in accordance with said stored information.

19. The method of claim 18, said method further comprising the step of transmitting in said television transmission data to be stored in memory to be cleared in response to said clear-and-continue signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a portion of said data is transmitted before said clear-and-continue signal is transmitted.

21. A method of generating a television display in a receiver station, said receiver station including a processor for generating a viewer-specific television programming video image and a monitor for displaying said viewer-specific television programming video image, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from remote sources, (i) a broadcast or cablecast transmission including transmitted television programming and (ii) an information transmission including a program instruction set;

passing said information transmission and at least a portion of said transmitted television programming to said processor;

storing said passed information transmission;

causing said processor to execute said program instruction set;

receiving a clear-and-continue signal from said broadcast or cablecast information transmission;

causing said processor, in response to said clear-and-continue signal, to interrupt execution of said program instruction set, to store information regarding resumption of said program instruction set, and to jump to and execute clear-and-continue instructions in said program instruction set, said clear-and-continue instructions causing said processor to clear a memory, to generate a viewer-specific television video image for storage at said memory and to resume execution of said program instruction set in accordance with said stored information; and

combining and displaying said viewer-specific television video image and said transmitted television programming in accordance to said stored information.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said memory comprises video RAM.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising a step of detecting said clear-and-continue signal in said broadcast or cablecast transmission.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said broadcast or cablecast transmission includes at least one embedded signal and said generating step occurs in response to said at least one embedded signal.