Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,827,587 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• 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): Hung, Yubin
• Application Number:
  US08/459,521
• Time in Patent Office: 5,632 Days
• Field of Search: 348/2, 348/3, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/10, 348/11, 348/12, 348/13, 348/461, 348/468, 348/563, 348/564, 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, 725135-140
• US Class Current: 725/140
• 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 delivering at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission, said at least one of said broadcast and said cablecast information transmission including (i) at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed, (ii) higher language computer code to be assembled into machine language code, (iii) assembly language code, (iv) data to be processed in accordance with said machine language code, and (v) a first control signal which is operative at said receiver station to deliver said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation;

passing said at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed to an output device at said receiver station for delivery to a user;

detecting said higher language computer code, said assembly language code, said data, and said first control signal;

passing said higher language code, said assembly language code, said data, and said first control signal to at least one processor at said receiver station;

assembling said machine language code by processing said higher language computer code in accordance with said assembly language code;

generating a signal by processing said data in accordance with said machine language code;

obtaining said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation by completing said at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed based on said generated signal and said first control signal;

outputting said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation to said user;

wherein all of the above steps are performed at said receiver station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said outputting step further comprises outputting television programming with said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation included.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said outputting step further comprises outputting said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation at least one of simultaneously and sequentially with a graphic image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if said outputting step outputs said audible programming presentation, said outputting step further comprises outputting said audible programming presentation with radio programming.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said generated signal includes a second control signal, said method further comprising the step of controlling at least one of a receiver, a switch, a decryptor or enabling device, a storage device, a computer, and a second output device at said receiver station based on said second control signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said generated signal includes at least one receiver station-specific data, said method further comprising the steps of:

storing said data;

selecting said at least one receiver station-specific data from said pre-stored data; and

outputting at least one of a simultaneous and sequential presentation of said at least one of said audible and said viewable programming and said at least one receiver specific data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the steps of:

linking said machine language code with a plurality of software modules; and

generating a program instruction set.

8. A method of delivering at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one information transmission at least one transmitter station, said at least one information transmission including (i) at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed, (ii) higher language computer code to be assembled into machine language code at said least one of a plurality of receiver stations, (iii) assembly language code, (iv) data to be processed in accordance with said machine language code, and (v) at least a first control signal, wherein said assembled machine language code is operable at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to process said data to generate a signal, and wherein said first control signal and said generated signal are operable at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to obtain said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation by completing said at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed;

causing said at least one of audible and viewable programming, said higher language computer code, said assembly language code, said data, and said at least said first control signal to be communicated to at least one transmitter at said least one transmitter station in a specific order; and

transmitting said at least one of audible and viewable programming, said higher language code, said assembly language code, said data, and said at least said first control signal.

9. A method of processing signals in a network including:

receiving at a transmitter station in said network an information transmission from a remote station, said transmission including incomplete processor instructions;

receiving at said transmitter station a control signal;

detecting at said transmitter station said incomplete processor instructions and said control signal and passing said incomplete processor instructions and said control signal to a computer in said transmitter station;

storing said incomplete processor instructions in said computer;

generating information to complete said incomplete processor instructions by processing, at said computer, information stored in said computer based on said control signal, wherein said stored information is not part of said transmission;

completing, at said computer, said incomplete processor instructions by placing said generated information into said passed and stored incomplete processor instructions; and

communicating to a processor in a receiver station in said network at least a first portion of said completed processor instructions based on a second portion of said completed processor instructions.

10. The method of claim 9,

wherein said incomplete processor instructions comprise incomplete higher language computer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

compiling, at said computer, said completed higher language computer code and including said compiled completed higher language computer code in machine language computer code.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

embedding, at said computer, said machine language code with said compiled completed higher language computer code included in a second information transmission to be transmitted.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

generating said machine language code.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

linking said compiled completed higher language computer code with a plurality of software modules.

15. The method of claim 11, said method further comprising the step of:

communicating said machine language code with said compiled completed higher language computer code included to a transmitter.

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

transmitting, from said transmitter, said machine language code with said compiled completed higher language computer code included.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

assembling, at said computer, said completed higher language computer code.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said transmitter station, a program instruction set and passing said received program instruction set to said computer; and

processing, at said computer, said completed higher language computer code based on said received program instruction set.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of said steps of (i) generating information to complete said higher language computer code, (ii) completing said higher language computer code, and (iii) communicating to a processor at least a first portion of said completed higher language computer code is performed on the basis of a schedule, said method further having at least one step from the group consisting of:

receiving, at said transmitter station, said schedule from a remote station; and

communicating said schedule to said computer.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

generating a program instruction set.

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

receiving an information transmission at a transmitter station in said network, said information transmission including an incomplete higher language computer code and a first control signal;

receiving at said transmitter station a second control signal which operates to communicate said information transmission to a transmitter at said transmitter station; and

transmitting said incomplete higher language computer code and said first control signal, said first control signal being effective to cause at least one of a plurality of receiver stations in said network to generate information to complete said incomplete higher language computer code comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion is operable at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to communicate said first portion to a processor in a second receiver station in said network.