Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,831,204 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1995
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• 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): PAPPAS, PETER
• Application Number:
  US08/397,636
• Time in Patent Office: 5,731 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13
• US Class Current: 455/39
• 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 station, said station having a receiver for receiving a transmission, and a plurality of storage locations, each storage location capable of being commanded to store and output programming, said station capable of selecting between each of said plurality of storage locations and communicating said programming between each of said plurality of storage locations, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said station, a first information transmission including a first plurality of units of programming comprising at least one of video, and audio;

demodulating said first information transmission;

detecting said first plurality of units of programming embedded in said first information transmission;

storing at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at a first storage location of said plurality of storage locations;

inputting command information at said station designating transmission data for a second plurality of units of programming comprising at least one of video and audio;

transferring, under computer control, said at least one said first plurality of units of programming stored at said first location to a second location of said plurality of storage locations in response to said command information;

combining and storing, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at said second storage location with other units of programming including at least one of video and audio to form, at said second storage location, said second plurality of units of programming comprising at least one of video and audio, wherein said first plurality of units of programming, said other units of programming and said second plurality of units of programming differ from one another and each signal is directed toward television or radio; and

transmitting a second information transmission, consisting of said second plurality of units of programming from said second storage location to a remote station at a specific time or in response to said command information, wherein said station and said remote station differ in terms of functionality from one another.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving and identifying a signal instructing said station to communicate said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming to an output device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of communicating, in response to said signal, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming from said second storage location to said output device.

4. A method of processing signals at a station comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said station, one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission including video;

demodulating, at said station, said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission, said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission including embedded identification signals;

detecting, at said station, said embedded identification signals on said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission;

storing video selected from said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission at a first storage location at said station in response to said embedded identification signals;

transferring, under computer control, at least one video signal from said first storage location to a second storage location at said station based on said embedded, identification signals;

combining and storing, under computer control, said at least one video signal with other signals including video to form, at said second storage location, a plurality of video signals, wherein said at least one video signal, said other signals and said plurality of video signals differ from one another and each signal is directed toward television; and

transmitting a second transmission consisting of said plurality of video signals from said second storage location at said station to at least one remote receiver station based on said embedded identification signals, wherein said station and said remote receiver station differ in terms of functionality from one another.

5. The method of claim 4,

further comprising the step of communicating, under computer control, said plurality of video signals stored at said second storage location to an output device in response to a second embedded signal on said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission.

6. A transmission station apparatus for communicating a transmission including units of programming, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving an information transmission from an origination station, said information transmission including a first plurality of units of programming including television programming, said information transmission also including programming identification signals identifying said plurality of units of programming;

a receiving device for receiving input command information designating transmission data for a second plurality of units of programming;

a first storage device connected to said receiver for storing at least one of said first plurality of units of programming;

a second storage device connected to said first storage device, said second storage device storing units of programming output by said first storage device;

a switch connected to said first storage device and said second storage device;

a computer connected to said first storage device, said second storage device, and said switch for controlling said first storage device to output said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming to said second storage device and controlling said second storage device to output a second plurality of units of programming including television programming to said switch, said computer;

combining, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming with other units of programming including television programming to form, at said second storage device, said second plurality of units of programming in accordance with said command information, wherein said first plurality of units of programming, said other units of programming and said second plurality of units of programming differ from one another and each unit of programming comprise at least one of video and audio; and

commanding said second storage device to store said second plurality of units of programming; and

a transmitter connected to said switch for receiving said second plurality of units of programming output from said second storage device and communicating said second plurality of units of programming to a plurality of subscriber stations, wherein said transmission station, said origination station and said plurality of subscriber stations differ in terms of functionality from one another.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a signal encoder connected to said computer for encoding an identification signal with said second plurality of units of programming;

a channel modulator connected to said switch and to a cable network, said channel modulator modulating a signal including said second plurality of units of programming output by said second storage device through said switch, said cable network communicating said modulated signal to said subscriber; and

a verification circuit connected to at least one of said switch, said cable network, and said channel modulator for verifying at least one of the time, channel, and frequency of transmission of said signal including said second plurality of units of programming, said verification circuit comprising a signal decoder for decoding said encoded identification signal.

8. A method for communicating television programming in one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission station that has a storage device having (i) at least two storage locations each storing a television signal, and (ii) a control device controlling said storage device and identifying said television programming on the basis of identification information stored at said storage device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first transmission including a first plurality of units of television programming, said first transmission including identification information identifying said units of television programming;

inputting said identification information that identifies said units of television programming to a computer at said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission station;

inputting at least one of said units of television programming to said storage device;

combining and storing, under computer control, said at least one of said units of television programming with other units of television programming at a selected one of said at least two storage locations to form, at said selected location, a second plurality of units of television programming, wherein said first plurality of units of television programming, said other units of television programming and said second plurality of units of television programming differ from one another and each comprise at least one of video and audio;

storing said identification information with said second plurality of units of television programming at said selected location; and

communicating from said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission station to at least one remote receiver station a second transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of television programming on the basis of said identification information stored with said second plurality of units of television programming, wherein said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission station, and said remote receiver station differ in terms of functionality from one another.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising storing information that identifies said selected one of said at least two storage locations where said at least one of said units of television programming is stored.

10. A method for communicating television programming from a transmission station that has storage means having a first and a second storage location, wherein said storage means holds at least two units of said television programming, and computer control means controlling said storage means and identifying a selected unit of television programming on the basis of identification information associated with said selected unit, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said transmission station a first transmission including a first plurality of units of television programming,

inputting identification information that specifies a a second plurality of units of television programming;

combining, under computer control of said computer control means, at least one of said first plurality of units of television programming with other units of television programming to form said second plurality of units of television programming in accordance said inputted identification information, wherein said first plurality of units of television programming, said other units of television programming and said second plurality of units of television programming differ from one another and each unit of programming comprise at least one of video and audio;

storing said second plurality of units of television programming at said first storage location; and

transmitting a second transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of television programming from said transmission station to a plurality of receiver stations on the basis of said identification information, wherein said transmission station and said plurality of receiver stations differ in terms of functionality from one another.

11. An apparatus for processing signals, said apparatus comprising:

a programming storage device for storing at least one of radio programming and television programming;

a receiver for receiving said at least one of radio programming and television programming;

a signal detector operatively connected to said programming storage device for detecting identification signals embedded in said at least one of radio programming and television programming;

a communicator, operatively connected to said programming storage device, for communicating said at least one of radio programming and television programming to a subscriber;

a computer operatively connected to said receiver, said signal detector and said communicator, wherein said computer is programmed to perform the following steps;

(a) causing said receiver to receive a first transmission from an origination station including a first plurality of units of programming of said at least one of radio programming and television programming;

(b) causing said signal detector to detect identification signals embedded in said first transmission;

(c) selecting at least one of a plurality of storage locations on said programming storage device;

(d) controlling said programming storage device to store said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at said selected storage location of said programming storage device;

(e) controlling said programming storage device to store other units of programming of said at least one of radio programming and television programming at said selected storage location;

(f) causing said signal detector to detect said information identifying said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming stored on said programming storage device;

(g) combining, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming with said other units of programming to form, at said selected storage location, a second plurality of units of programming of said at least one of radio programming and television programming, wherein said first plurality of units of programming, said other units of programming and said second plurality of units of programming differ from one another and each unit of programming comprise at least one of video and audio;

(h) controlling said programming storage device to output said second plurality of units of programming from said selected storage location to said communicator; and

(i) controlling said communicator to communicate a transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of programming to said subscriber, wherein said origination station and said apparatus differ in terms of functionality from one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said

receiver receives and demodulates a carrier transmission including said at least one of radio programming and television programming.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said apparatus further comprising:

a second detector operatively connected to said receiver and said computer for detecting signals in said carrier transmission.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second detector detects a signal instructing said computer to store said received at least one of radio programming and television programming, and wherein said computer performs at least one of said steps (c)-(e) in response to said second detector detecting said signal instructing said computer to store said received at least one of radio programming and television programming.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second detector detects a signal instructing said computer to communicate said second plurality of units of programming to said subscriber, and wherein said computer performs at least one of said steps (f)-(i) in response to said second detector detecting said signal instructing said computer to communicate.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, said apparatus further comprising a programming storage or playback device for receiving at least one of tapes and discs including prerecorded portions of said at least one of radio programming and television programming.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said programming storage device further comprises a plurality of programming storage devices, and wherein said step (c) further comprises the step of:

selecting a first of said plurality of programming storage devices for storing said at least one of first plurality of units of programming.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, said apparatus further comprising:

a switch operatively connected between said plurality of programming storage devices and said communicator for selectively connecting a second of said plurality of storage devices to said communicator, and wherein said computer is programmed to further perform the step of;

at least one of configuring and controlling said switch to connect said second of said plurality of storage devices to said communicator to allow said at least one of radio second plurality of units of programming to be communicated to the subscriber.

19. A method of communicating at least one of television signals and radio signals in a network including an origination station that transmits signals, at least one intermediate station that receives and selectively transmits signals, and a subscriber station that receives signals from said at least one intermediate station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said at least one intermediate station from said origination station, a first transmission including a first plurality of units of programming including audio and at least one of television programming and radio programming, said transmission also including programming identification signals identifying said plurality of units of programming, wherein said origination station, said intermediate station and said subscriber station differ in terms of functionality from one another;

detecting said programming identification signals at said intermediate station;

inputting command information at said intermediate transmitter station designating transmission data for a second plurality of units of programming, wherein said second plurality of units of programming includes audio and at least one of television programming and radio programming;

storing at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at a first storage location at said at least one intermediate station;

transferring, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming from said first storage location to a second storage location at said at least one intermediate station based on said command information and said programming identification signals;

combining and storing, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at said second storage location with other units of programming, wherein said other units of programming include audio and at least one of television programming and radio programming, to form, at said second storage location, said second plurality of units of programming in accordance with said command information, wherein said first plurality of units of programming, said other plurality of units of programming and said second plurality of units of programming differ from one another; and

communicating a second transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of programming from said second storage location at said at least one intermediate station to said subscriber station based on said command information and said programming identification signals.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of combining and storing further comprises the steps of:

identifying said at least one of said first plurality of said units of programming and said other units of programming; and

storing said second plurality of units of programming in a file with identification information identifying said second plurality of units of programming at said second storage location to enable subsequent identification of said stored second plurality of units of programming.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of storing said second plurality of units of programming in a file further comprises the step of:

embedding said identification information in said second plurality of units of programming prior to said step of storing said second plurality of units of programming with said identification information.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of identifying further comprises the step of:

comparing said identified at least one of said first plurality of said units of programming and other units of programming to previously stored information identifying a said second plurality of units of programming.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of:

receiving said first transmission from a remote location.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of storing said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at said first storage location further comprises the step of:

loading said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming on a programming storage device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of loading further comprises:

loading a tape including pre-recorded material including said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming onto a video tape player or recorder, wherein said at least one of said first plurality of unit of programming comprise television programming.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of loading further comprises:

at least one of loading and storing said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming on a video disk storage unit, wherein said first plurality of unit of programming comprise television programming.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of storing said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at said first storage location further comprises the steps of:

selecting said first storage location at said at least one intermediate station; and

storing said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at the selected first storage location at said at least one intermediate station.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said network includes a plurality of intermediate stations and said step of storing at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at a first storage location further comprises the steps of:

receiving said first transmission at a selected one of said plurality of intermediate stations;

selecting a first of a plurality of storage devices at said selected one of said plurality of intermediate stations;

storing said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming on said first of said plurality of storage devices.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said step of transferring further comprises the steps of:

selecting a second of said plurality of storage devices at said selected one of said plurality of intermediate stations; and

transferring, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming from said first of said plurality of storage devices to a said second storage device at said selected one of said plurality of intermediate stations.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of combining and storing further comprises the step of:

storing said second plurality of units of programming at said second of said plurality of storage devices.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of communicating further comprises the step of:

communicating said second transmission from said second of said plurality of storage devices to said subscriber station based on command information and said programming identification signals.

32. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

logging said step of communicating.

33. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of communicating further comprises the step of:

communicating identification information identifying said second plurality of units of programming with said second transmission to said subscriber station.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:

logging said step of communicating second transmission.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said step of logging comprises the steps of:

detecting said identification information communicated with said second transmission; and

recording information indicating that said second plurality of units of programming was communicated to said subscriber station based on said command information and said programming identification signals.

36. A method of communicating at least one of television signals and radio signals in a network including a plurality of stations, said plurality of stations including an origination station that transmits signals, at least one intermediate station that receives and selectively transmits signals, a plurality of storage devices, and a plurality of subscriber stations that receive signals from said at least one intermediate station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said at least one intermediate station from said origination station, a first transmission including a first plurality of units of programming each including audio and at least one of television programming and radio programming, wherein said origination station, said at least one intermediate station and said plurality of subscriber stations differ in terms of functionality from one another;

storing at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at a first storage location at said at least one intermediate station;

transferring, under computer control, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming from said first storage location of the first station to a second storage location of said at least one intermediate station;

combining and storing, under control computer, said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming at said second storage location with other units of programming, wherein said other units of programming include audio and at least one of television programming and radio programming, to form, at said second storage location at said at least one intermediate station, a second plurality of units of programming, wherein said second units of programming include audio and at least one of television programming and radio programming; and

communicating a second transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of programming from said second storage location at said at least one intermediate station to said plurality of subscriber stations, wherein said first plurality of units, said other units of programming and second plurality of units of programming differ from one another.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

communicating a programming identification signal from said origination station to said at least one intermediate station, said programming identification signal identifying said second plurality of units of programming stored at said second storage location;

detecting, at said at least one intermediate station, said programming identification signal communicated from said origination station;

communicating said second transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of programming identified by said programming identification signal from said second storage location to at least one of said plurality of subscriber stations in response to detecting said programming identification signal.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of:

logging that said second plurality of units of programming was communicated from said second storage location to at least one of said plurality of subscriber stations.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said step of logging further comprises the steps of:

detecting embedded identification data in said second transmission; and

recording information indicating that said second plurality of units of programming was communicated based on said step of detecting.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of combining and storing further comprises the steps of:

identifying said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming and said other units of programming;

embedding identification data in said second plurality of units of programming, said identification data identifying said second plurality of units of programming; and

storing said second of said plurality of units of programming with said embedded identification data at said second storage location.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of storing at said first storage location includes storing at least two of said first plurality of units of programming on a first of said plurality of storage devices, said step of combining and storing at a second storage location further comprising the steps of:

(a) reordering said at least two of said first plurality of units of programming into a new order; and

(b) storing said at least two of said first plurality of units of programming on a second of said plurality of storage devices in said new order.

42. A network of stations comprising:

an origination station including a transmitter for transmitting at least one of television programming and radio programming with programming identification signals, said at least one of television programming and radio programming including at least audio;

a plurality of intermediate stations for receiving, processing and selectively retransmitting said at least one of television programming and radio programming with the programming identification signals received from said origination station, each of said plurality of intermediate stations including;

(a) a receiver for receiving an first information transmission including a first plurality of units of programming including said at least one of television programming and radio programming with the programming identification signals from said origination station;

(b) a signal detector for detecting the programming identification signals;

(c) a plurality of programming storage devices for storing at least one of said first plurality of units of programming;

(d) a computer operatively connected to said receiver, said signal detector and said plurality of programming storage devices, said computer programmed to perform the following steps;

selecting said at least one of said first plurality of units of programming received by said receiver based on the programming identification signals detected by said signal detector;

routing the selected at least one of said first plurality of units of programming to a first of said plurality of programming storage devices;

controlling said first of said plurality of programming storage devices to store the selected at least one of first plurality of units of programming on said first of said plurality of programming storage devices;

transferring the selected at least one of said first plurality of units of programming from said first of said plurality of programming storage devices to a second of said plurality of programming storage devices;

controlling said second of said plurality of programming storage devices to combine and store, under computer control, the selected at least one of said first plurality of units of programming with other programming units including at least one of television programming and radio programming on said second of said plurality of programming storage devices to form, at said second of said plurality of programming storage devices, a second plurality of units of programming including at least one of television programming and radio programming, wherein said first plurality of units of programming, said other plurality of units of programming and said second plurality of units of programming differ from one another and each unit of programming comprise at least one of video and audio; and

communicating a second information transmission consisting of said second plurality of units of programming from said second of said plurality of programming storage devices to a subscriber station, wherein said origination station, said plurality of intermediate stations and said subscriber station differ in terms of functionality from one another; and

the subscriber station comprising a receiver for receiving said second information transmission.