Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,840,976 B1
• Filed: 05/23/1995
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• 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): Le, Brian Q
• Application Number:
  US08/447,712
• Time in Patent Office: 5,663 Days
• Field of Search: 348 2- 13, 348/468, 348/722, 348/906, 455 2- 25, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 395/235, 395/238, 395/237, 395/236, 395/925, 358/407, 370315-327, 370/FOR.133, 370/270, 725 27- 38, 725/49, 725135-142, 725/145, 380210-212, 380/218, 709245-247
• US Class Current: 725/27
• 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 a receiver specific program at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, comprising using a computer to perform the following steps of:

generating a first control signal at a transmitter station;

receiving a second control signal at said transmitter station, said second control signal operative to communicate said first control signal; and

transmitting said first control signal to said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations in response to said second control signal, said first control signal effective at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to control a computer to perform a step for computing a receiver specific value by processing information stored in said computer, a step for generating a receiver specific signal based on said receiver specific value, a step for placing said receiver specific signal at a specific memory location, a step for outputting said receiver specific signal, a step for clearing said receiver specific signal from said specific memory location, and a step for delivering programming including said receiver specific signal in a period of time between said step for placing said receiver specific signal at said specific memory location and said step for clearing said receiver specific signal from said specific memory location.

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

originating an instruct signal at said transmitter station; and

generating some portion of at least one of a computer program and a data module in response to said instruct signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiver specific program includes a presentation of at least two instances of combined medium programming, said method further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a portion of each of said two instances of combined medium programming.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving operating instructions at said transmitter station, said operating instructions effective to control a processor at said transmitter station, wherein said first control signal and said second control signal are processed by said processor under control of said operating instructions.

5. A method of delivering a receiver specific program at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, comprising using a computer to perform the following steps of:

storing a control signal and selected data at a transmitter station; and

transmitting a transmission including said stored control signal and said stored selected data, said control signal effective at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to control a computer perform a step for computing a receiver specific value by processing information stored in said computer, a step for generating a receiver specific signal based on said receiver specific value, a step for placing said receiver specific signal at a specific memory location, a step for outputting said receiver specific signal, a step for clearing said receiver specific signal from said specific memory location, and a step for delivering programming including said receiver specific signal in a period of time between said step for placing said receiver specific signal at said specific memory location and said step for clearing said receiver specific signal from said specific memory location.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of transmitting operating instructions to said computer, said operating instructions effective to control said computer, wherein said control signal is processed by said computer under control of said operating instructions.

7. A method for controlling the transmission of a control signal from an intermediate transmitter station to a receiver station, comprising using a computer to perform the following steps of:

receiving, at said intermediate transmitter station, information regarding a first control signal;

receiving a second control signal operative to cause a first computer at said intermediate transmitter station to select data and to communicate said first control signal to a memory of said computer based on said data; and

transmitting, to said receiver station, said selected first control signal, said selected first control signal operative at said receiver station to control a second computer to perform a step for generating a receiver specific value by processing information stored in said second computer, a step for generating a receiver specific signal based on said receiver specific value, a step for placing said receiver specific signal at a specific memory location, a step for communicating said receiver specific signal to an output device, a step for clearing said receiver specific signal from said specific memory location, and a step for delivering programming including said receiver specific signal in a period time between said step for placing said receiver specific signal at a specific memory location and said step for clearing said receiver specific signal from said specific memory location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first control is generated at said intermediate transmitter station before said second control signal is received.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of transmitting said first selected control signal is based on a third control signal.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of storing said selected first control signal at a storage device included within said intermediate transmitter station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting step is performed at a specific time according to a third control signal.

12. A method of signal processing at a receiver station having a computer and an output device to deliver at the output device an output of combined medium programming including a receiver specific datum within a broadcast or cablecast program, said method comprising using said computer to perform the following steps of:

(a) receiving an information transmission comprising a broadcast or cablecast program and a control signal;

(b) selecting said received broadcast or cablecast program from the information transmission and transferring it to the output device for delivery to the user;

(c) detecting said control signal in the information transmission and passing said detected control signal to said computer; and

(d) controlling said computer based on said control signal, said step of controlling comprising;

(1) a step for generating a receiver specific datum by processing first information that is stored in said computer;

(2) a step for placing said receiver specific datum at a specific memory location of the computer;

(3) a step for communicating said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location to said output device; and

subsequently

(4) a step for clearing said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location; and

(5) a step for delivering combined medium programming of said received broadcast or cablecast program including said receiver specific datum in a period of time between said step for placing said receiver specific datum at said specific memory location and said step for clearing said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said combined medium programming is delivered as printed text.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said combined medium programming includes audio, and said step for delivering comprises placing said audio into audio RAM.

15. The method of claim 12, said step for placing said receiver specific datum at a specific memory location comprises placing said receiver specific datum into a video RAM.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step for generating a receiver specific datum by processing information that is stored in the computer is achieved by executing a computer program which is loaded at said computer in response to said control signal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein processor instructions executed by said computer to perform said step of controlling are detected in the broadcast or cablecast information transmission.

18. A receiver station apparatus for signal processing to deliver combined medium programming including a receiver specific datum within a broadcast or cablecast program, comprising:

an output device, said output device for delivering said program;

a decoder for detecting control signals in an information transmission;

a computer operatively connected to said output device and said decoder, said computer having a specific memory location, and for performing the following steps based upon said control signals;

(1) a step for generating a receiver specific datum by processing information that is stored in said computer;

(2) a step for placing said receiver specific datum in said specific memory location;

(3) a step for communicating said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location to said output device;

(4) a step for clearing said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location, and

(5) a step for delivering combined medium programming including said receiver specific datum during said broadcast or cablecast program in the period of time between said step for placing said datum at said memory location and said step for clearing said datum from said memory location.

19. A method of communicating mass medium program material from a transmitter station to a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a broadcast or cablecast program receiver, an output device, a control signal detector, a computer, said method comprising using a processor to perform the following steps of:

receiving at a transmitter station a program to be transmitted;

storing at said transmitter station a control signal which at said plurality of receiver stations operates to control each said computer to perform a step for generating a receiver specific value, a step for selecting audio for output based on said receiver specific value, a step for placing said audio in a specific memory location, a step for communicating said audio to said output device, a step for clearing said audio from said specific memory location, a step for delivering at said output device said combined medium programming including said audio in a time period between said step for placing said audio in a specific memory location and said step for clearing said audio from said specific memory location; and

transmitting at a specific time an information transmission comprising said program and said control signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a controller at said transmitter station controls the passing of a specific received signal, said method further comprising the steps of detecting embedded information in said specific received signal and controlling the passing of said specific received signal on the basis of said detected embedded information.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein a plurality of signals is received from one or more remote stations at said transmitter station and at least one is stored at said transmitter station which is operative to schedule transmission, said method further comprising the steps of adapting said transmitter station to store a schedule and causing said transmitter to transmit in accordance with said schedule.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of causing said transmitter station to generate, in accordance with said schedule, at least portions of signals to be transmitted.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at said transmitter station an information transmission from a remote station;

detecting in the information transmission from said remote station an instruct signal;

executing said instruction set at a transmitter station computer in response to said instruct signal; and

selecting, based on said instruction set, information to be processed at a receiver station or communicating information to be associated with said program.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a controller at said transmitter station controls a memory location to communicate to said transmitter a selected control signal, said method further comprising the steps of detecting a first instruct signal which is effective at the transmitter station to instruct transmission, and inputting said first instruct signal to said controller thereby to cause said memory location to communicate a selected control signal.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of storing said first instruct signal at said transmitter station, and controlling said memory location to communicate a selected control signal at a scheduled time according to said first instruct signal.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of controlling said memory location to communicate said program to said transmitter based on a second instruct signal.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of detecting a selected control signal communicated from said memory location and programming a controller to respond to a control signal communicated from said memory location.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of embedding first instruct signal in said program thereby to enable said controller to respond to said embedded said first instruct signal at a time when said program is being communicated.

29. A transmitter station apparatus for processing a signal and communicating mass medium program materials to present at each of a plurality of receiver stations a combined output of a broadcast or cablecast program and a receiver specific computer generated datum, with each of said receiver stations having an output device for receiving and delivering the broadcast or cablecast program and other information, each said station also having a microcomputer with a specific memory location operatively connected to said output device for storing and outputting information to said output device, said transmitter station apparatus comprising:

a broadcast or cablecast transmitter for communicating to a plurality of receiver stations an information transmission;

a program input receiver operatively connected to said transmitter for communicating the program to said transmitter;

a memory or recorder operatively connected to said transmitter for storing and communicating a first control signal which at the receiver station operates to generate the receiver specific datum; and

an input device operatively connected to said memory or recorder for causing said memory or recorder to communicate said first control signal at a specific time to said transmitter, thereby to communicate said program and said first control signal to said receiver stations and cause each of said plurality of receiver stations to deliver said program at its output device by controlling said microcomputer to perform the step for generating a receiver station specific datum, a step for placing its receiver station specific datum at its memory location, a step for communicating said receiver station specific datum from its memory location to said output device, a step for clearing said receiver specific datum from its memory location, and a step for delivering a combined output of said broadcast or cablecast program and its receiver station specific datum at its output device in a period of time between said step for placing its receiver station specific datum at its memory location and said step for clearing said receiver specific datum from its memory location.

30. A method of communicating mass medium program material to at least one receiver station which includes a broadcast or cablecast program receiver, an output device, a control signal-detector, a computer with a specific memory location capable of communicating to said output device, said method comprising using a processor to perform the following steps of:

receiving at a transmitter station a program to be transmitted;

generating data related to said program;

generating at said transmitter station a first control signal using said generated data which at said at least one receiver station operates to control said computer to perform a step for generating a receiver specific datum, a step for placing said receiver specific datum in a specific memory location, a step for communicating said receiver specific datum to said output device, a step for clearing said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location, and a step for delivering at said output device combined medium programming including said receiver specific datum in a period of time between said step for placing said receiver specific datum in a specific memory location and said step for clearing said receiver specific datum from said specific memory location;

receiving a second control signal; and

transmitting at least one of said program and said first control signal in response to said second control signal.

31. The method of claim 30, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said second control signal to said transmitter station.