Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,827,586 B1
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• 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:
  US08/472,066
• Time in Patent Office: 5,628 Days
• Field of Search: 379/51, 379/101, 379/102, 348 1- 4, 455 2- 63, 725/136, 725/122, 725/60, 725/106, 725/110
• US Class Current: 725/136
• 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 signals at a transmission station in a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving programming at said transmission station;

generating, based on said programming, an instruct signal and a data module, said data module including audio information, said instruct signal containing information to connect a plurality of remote stations;

wherein said instruct signal, after being received at a receiver station, causes said receiver station to select one of the plurality of remote stations and establish telephone communications between said receiver station and said one of the plurality of remote stations, wherein said instruct signal causes all of said audio information to be processed at said receiver station and a portion less than all of said audio information is outputted at said receiver station; and

transmitting said instruct signal and said data module including said audio information from said transmission station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said data module includes said audio information and at least one telephone number to be dialed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said data module further includes video image information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver station outputs said audio information as part of a combined medium presentation, said method further comprising the step of transmitting at least one of audio and video programming to be outputted as part of said combined medium presentation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver station outputs said •

audio information in television programming, said method further comprising the step of transmitting video of said television programming.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver station is capable of receiving a code portion of an information transmission, said method further comprising the step of transmitting at least a portion of said data module including said audio information and said instruct signal in said code portion.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a receiver control signal which enables a receiver station to receive a changed expanse of said code portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said programming, includes data which serves as a basis for performing at least one of said steps of generating and transmitting.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said programming includes said portion less of all of said audio information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmission station transmits audio programming, said audio programming of a duration, a portion less than all of said duration including a time interval of specific relevance, said method further comprising the step of outputting said portion less than all of said audio information in an information transmission, said information transmission including said audio programming.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of embedding of said generated data into said information transmission.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmission station transmits a message, said method further comprising the step embedding said message into an information transmission containing audio programming.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said programming includes television programming.

14. A method of processing signals at a receiver station in a network, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving, at said receiver station, an information transmission which includes generated data including (i) audio information and (ii) at least one instruct signal, said instruct signal containing information to connect a plurality of remote stations;

wherein said instruct signal causes said receiver station to select one of the plurality of remote stations;

(2) establishing telephone communications with said one of the plurality of remote stations in accordance with said at least one instruct signal; and

(3) processing all of said generated data to cause said receiver station to output a portion less than all of said audio information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said information transmission includes audio programming, said audio programming of a duration, a portion less than all of said duration including a time interval of specific relevance, said method further comprising the steps of:

outputting said audio programming at said receiver station; and

outputting said portion less than all of said audio information in said time interval of specific relevance.

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

selecting said audio programming in response to at least one control signal;

and communicating said selected audio programming to an audio output device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least some of said audio programming and said portion less than all of said audio information is outputted at a speaker.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said audio programming is outputted as a part of a television programming presentation, said method further comprising the steps of:

selecting an audio portion of said television programming presentation; and

communicating said audio portion to a speaker.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said information transmission 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 a television program and said generated balance of said television program at one of a television monitor and a television storage device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a memory is operatively connected to said one of a television monitor and a television storage device, said generated balance of said television program includes a receiver specific datum, and said step of synchronizing includes placing said receiver specific datum at said memory.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said receiver specific datum includes said portion less than all of said audio information.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one processor performs at least one of said steps of generating said balance and synchronizing delivery, said method further comprising the step of detecting processor instructions in said information transmission which operate at least one of (i) to generate said balance and (ii) to synchronize said presentation.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein a digital switch communicates said processor instructions to said at least one processor.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein a controller communicates said at least one instruct signal to said at least one processor.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein said information transmission includes television programming.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said information transmission includes a code portion, said method further comprising the step of controlling at least one of a receiver and a digital detector to pass to a processor digital data included in said code portion.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said television programming includes only part of a television program, said method further comprising the steps of:

generating a remainder of said television program; and

synchronizing delivery of said television programming and said generated remainder of said television program at one of a television monitor and a television storage device.

28. A method of processing signals in a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal at a transmitter station;

generating an instruct signal and data including video image information, said instruct signal containing information to connect to a plurality of remote stations;

wherein said instruct signal being effective at a receiver station to select one of the plurality of remote stations and establish telephone communications between said receiver station and said one of the plurality of remote stations,

said video image information to be processed at said receiver station and only some of said video image information to be outputted at said receiver station; and

transmitting said instruct signal, said data, and said video image information.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of transmitting processor instructions which operate at said receiver station to store and process said video image information.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of detecting, in said signal, one or more processor instructions which operate to generate at least some of said data and said at least one instruct signal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said transmitter station includes a plurality of processors, said method further comprising the steps of:

communicating said one or more processor instructions to said plurality of processors; and

causing a first of said plurality of processors to control a second of said plurality of processors in accordance with said one or more processor instructions.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said signal includes data which serves as a basis for performing at least one of said steps of generating and transmitting.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said signal includes said only some of said video image information.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein said transmitter station transmits video programming, said video programming of a duration, only some of said duration including a time interval of specific relevance, said method further comprising the step of outputting said only some of said video image information in an information transmission, said information transmission including said video programming.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of embedding said generated data into said information transmission.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein said transmitter station transmits a message, said method further comprising the step embedding said message into an information transmission containing video programming.

37. A method of processing signals in a network, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a receiver station in said network, an information transmission which includes data including (i) video image information and (ii) at least one instruct signal, said instruct signal containing information to connect to a plurality of remote stations;

wherein said instruct signal being effective to select one of the plurality of remote stations;

establishing telephone communications with a remote station in accordance with said at least one instruct signal between said receiver station and said one of the plurality of remote stations; and

processing all of said data to cause said receiver station to output only some of said video image information.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

outputting video programming at said receiver station, said video programming of a duration, some of said duration including a time interval of specific relevance; and

outputting said only some of said video image information during said time interval of specific relevance.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of selecting said video programming in response to said at least one instruct signal.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said information transmission includes said video programming, said video programming includes only part of a television program, and said receiver station outputs said television program, said method further comprising the steps of:

generating a balance of said television program; and

synchronizing delivery of said video programming and said generated balance of said television program at one of a television monitor and a television storage device.

41. A method of processing signals in a network, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving a control signal transmitted from an origination station to a transmitter station;

(2) generating, based on said control signal, at least a portion of processor instructions, wherein said processor instructions contain information to connect a plurality of remote stations and are effective at a receiver station to cause said receiver station to select and record information, generate image information to be output to a user, select one of the plurality of remote stations and establish telephone communications between said receiver station and said one of the plurality of remote stations; and

(3) transmitting said processor instructions.

42. A method as in claim 41, further comprising receiving a programming transmission transmitted from an origination station to a transmitter station.

43. A method of processing signals in a network, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving, at a receiver station, processor instructions, wherein said processor instructions contain information to connect a plurality of remote stations; and

(2) processing said processor instructions to cause said receiver station to select and record information, generate image information to be output to a user, select one of the plurality of remote stations and establish telephone communications with said one of the plurality of remote stations.

44. A method as in claim 43, wherein said processing step includes causing said receiver station to communicate an address of a subscriber to said remote station.