Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,856,650 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1993
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• 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 Willam
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Son P
• Application Number:
  US08/113,329
• Time in Patent Office: 6,322 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/12, 348/734, 348/705, 348/722, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/6.1, 455/6.3, 455/12.1, 455/14, 455/17, 455/18, 455/19, 455/39, 455/47, 455/49.1, 455/53.1, 455/66, 455/68, 455/70, 455/91, 455/92, 455/151.1, 455/179.1, 455/352, 358/83, 358/84, 358/86, 358/181, 358/185, 725/38, 725/78, 725/80, 725/82, 725135-138, 725/140, 725/141, 725/144, 725/146, 725151-153
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/071 containing electro-optic elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 : Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21815 : comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 : Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 : involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/236 : Assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport stream, by combining a video stream with other content or additional data, e.g. inserting a URL [Uniform Resource Locator] into a video stream, multiplexing software data into a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Insertion of stuffing bits into the multiplex stream, e.g. to obtain a constant bit-rate; Assembling of a packetised elementary stream multiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 : Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 : Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 : Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 : Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 : Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 : for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 : home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 : external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 : involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 : providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 : Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4307 : Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 : by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 : Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4353 : involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 : Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4385 : Multiplex stream processing, e.g. multiplex stream decrypting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 : Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 21/45 : Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4888 : for displaying teletext characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 : Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/633 : Control signals issued by server directed to the network components or client management of faults, events, alarms in data networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 : OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 : for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/084 : with signal insertion during the horizontal blanking interval only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 : Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 : Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence

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 controlling, at an intermediate television transmission station, a transmission of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer for controlling the storage and communication of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving units of said television programming on different channels, by said intermediate television transmission station, from a remote television programming source;

selectively receiving signals transmitted repeatedly from said remote television programming source at specified predetermined time intervals, each of said signals identifying one of said received units or a source of said one of said received units;

inputting said signals to said computer;

prior to receiving units of said television programming, receiving at said computer a programming schedule from a source separate from said remote television programming source, said programming schedule designating for at least one of said received units;

(a) an output channel to be used in communicating said at least one of said received units; and

(b) a time for transmitting said at least one of said received units;

automatically selecting and storing at least one of said received units at a predetermined storage device based on said signals and said programming schedule;

assembling at said intermediate television station, said received units based on said signals; and

automatically transmitting said at least one of said received units from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station at said time and said output channel according to said programming schedule based on said step of storing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said intermediate television transmission station comprises a plurality of receivers for receiving said received units and said signals, said step of inputting comprising the steps of:

selecting a specific receiver of said receivers; and

inputting said signals received by said selected receiver to said computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of logging said step of automatically transmitting.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined storage device includes a local programming source, said local programming source comprising a television programming storage device located at said intermediate television transmission station for storing said at least one stored unit.

25. The method of claim 21, 22, 9, 23 or 24 further comprising the step of logging a unit identification signal identifying at least one of:

(a) said time; and

(b) said output channel.

26. The method of claim 1, 9 or 19, wherein said step of receiving said programming schedule comprises the steps of receiving said programming schedule from a remote information source and storing said programming schedule.

27. The method of claim 21, 22, or 24, wherein said programming schedule is received from a remote information source.

4. A method of controlling, at an intermediate television transmission station, a transmission of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station comprising a computer for controlling the transmission of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said intermediate television transmission station, first units of said television programming on different channels, to be communicated to said subscriber station, from one or more remote television programming sources;

loading a plurality of second units of said television programming, to be communicated to said subscriber station, onto a local programming source located at said intermediate television transmission station;

receiving at said intermediate television transmission station a plurality of signals from said one or more remote television programming sources, each of said signals designating a unit of said first units and said second units;

identifying in response to each of said signals said unit designated by each of said signals, said unit designated by each of said signals being selected from said first units and said second units;

prior to receiving said first units of said television programming, receiving at said computer a programming schedule from a source separate from said one or more remote television programming sources, said programming schedule designating a time and an output channel for transmitting each of said designated units to said subscriber station;

automatically selecting and storing at least one of said designated units at a predetermined storage device at said intermediate television transmission station based on said signals and said programming schedule; and

automatically transmitting said selected stored at least one of said designated units from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station at the time and output channel designated in said programming schedule.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of logging said step of automatically transmitting.

6. An apparatus located at an intermediate television transmission station for controlling a transmission of units of television programming to a plurality of subscriber stations, said apparatus comprising:

a first receiver for receiving multiple units of a television programming and identifiers on different channels from a remote television source, said identifiers transmitted repeatedly at specified predetermined time intervals, each of said identifiers identifying a unit of said multiple units, said multiple units are selectively assembled at said intermediate television transmission station based on said identifiers;

a second receiver for receiving a programming schedule from a communication network separate from said remote television source, said programming schedule received at said second receiver prior to receiving said multiple units, said programming schedule designating for at least one of said multiple units;

(a) a time to transmit to said plurality of subscriber stations; and

(b) an output channel to be used for transmitting to said plurality of subscriber stations;

a switch having inputs operatively connected to said first receiver and said a storage device, said switch having one or more outputs operatively connected to one or more output channels;

a computer operatively connected to said first receiver, said switch, and said storage device, said computer having access to said programming schedule and automatically controls of identifying, selecting and storing in said storage device said at least one of said multiple units based on said identifiers and said programming schedule;

said storage device for storing said at least one of said multiple units; and

said computer configuring said switch and automatically controlling said storage device to transmit said at least one unit of said multiple units of television programming from said storage device to said plurality of subscriber stations at said time and on said output channel according to said programming schedule.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said storage device comprises a plurality of television programming storage devices connected to said switch, said computer further configuring said switch to select a specific one of said plurality of television programming storage devices.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first identifier of said identifiers designates said at least one of said multiple units for storage or delayed communication to said plurality of subscriber stations, wherein said computer further operates to control said switch to communicate said at least one of said multiple units to said storage device and controls said storage device to store said at least one of said multiple units.

9. A method of controlling at an intermediate television transmission station a transmission of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer for controlling the transmission of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving multiple units of said television programming on multiple communications channels at a said intermediate television transmission station from a remote television programming source;

selectively receiving a signal transmitted repeatedly from said remote television programming source at specified time intervals, said signal identifying at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

receiving a programming schedule from a source separate from said remote television programming source prior to receiving said multiple units of television programming, said programming schedule designating for said at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

(a) an output channel to be used in transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming; and

(b) a time for transmitting to said subscriber station said at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

detecting said signal;

passing said detected signal to said computer;

identifying that said detected signal is a predetermined signal;

automatically selecting and storing said at least one of said multiple units of television programming on a local programming source based on said signal and said programming schedule;

assembling, at said intermediate transmission station, said transmission including said at least one of said multiple units of television programming based on said signal; and

automatically transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station in said transmission in response to said step of identifying and according to said programming schedule.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said detected signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-delay signal, and said method further comprises storing said selected unit in response to said step of identifying said instruct-to-delay signal, thereby allowing a delayed transmission of said at least one of said multiple units of television programming.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one of said multiple units of television programming is identified by said instruct-to-delay signal.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one of said multiple units of television programming is identified by being transmitted with said instruct-to-delay signal from said remote television programming source.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said signal is one of a plurality of signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-communicate signal, said step of automatically transmitting being performed in response to said step of identifying said instruct-to-communicate signal, said step of automatically transmitting comprises the steps of:

selecting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from one of;

(a) stored units stored on said local programming source; and

(b) a plurality of said multiple units of television programming which are not stored on said local programming source; and

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station at a time and on an output channel according to said programming schedule.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said detected signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said step of receiving said multiple units is performed by a receiver at said intermediate television transmission station, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-determine-input signal, and said step of transmitting comprises the steps of:

selecting a unit from one of;

(a) stored units stored on said local programming source, said local programming source being operatively connected to a first input of a switch; and

(b) a plurality of said multiple units of television programming which are not stored on said local programming source, said receiver being operatively connected to a second input of said switch, said switch operatively connecting one of said first and second inputs to a switch output;

identifying one of said first and second inputs from which to transmit said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station in response to said instruct-to-determine-input signal;

configuring said switch to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said identified input to said switch output; and

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said switch output to said subscriber station according to said programming schedule.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said detected signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-determine-output signal, and said step of communicating comprises the steps of:

selecting a unit from one of;

(a) stored units stored on said local programming source; and

(b) a plurality of said multiple units of television programming which are not stored on said local programming source;

identifying an output channel over which to transmit said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station in response to said instruct-to-determine-input signal; and

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station over said identified output channel.

16. The method of either of claim 10, 13, or 15 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the steps of:

communicating a switch control signal to a switch; and

configuring said switch in response to said switch control signal to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from a selected input of said switch to a selected output of said switch.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of storing comprises the steps of:

loading a plurality of prerecorded ones of said units of television programming onto said local programming source; and

storing a plurality of said received at least one unit on said local programming source.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a programming transmission via satellite from a television network, said programming transmission comprising said at least one of said multiple units of television programming and one or more digital signals embedded in said programming transmission.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of identifying comprises the steps of:

comparing said each of said signals to data in said programming schedule, said data identifying said designated unit;

determining based on said programming schedule whether said unit designated by said each of said signals will be received from said one or more remote sources and should be communicated immediately upon receipt to said subscriber station, or whether said designated unit is loaded onto said local programming source and should be output therefrom to said subscriber station, each of said second units loaded onto said local programming source being stored at a storage location on said local programming source; and

identifying said storage location of said unit designated by said each of said signals if said designated unit is loaded onto said local programming source.

23. The method of claim 9, wherein said signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said intermediate television transmission station comprising a switch operatively connecting first and second switch inputs to a plurality of switch outputs, each of said switch outputs operatively connected to at least one output channel, a local programming source and a receiver for receiving said multiple units of television programming operatively connected to said first and second switch inputs, respectively, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-transfer signal, and said step of transmitting comprises the steps of:

identifying one of said first and second switch inputs from which to communicate said at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

identifying one of said plurality of switch outputs to which to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming, said identified one switch output being identified through the designation of said output channel by said programming schedule;

communicating a switch control signal to said switch in response to said steps of identifying said one of said first and second switch inputs and said one of said plurality of switch outputs;

configuring said switch in response to said switch control signal to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said identified one of said first and second switch inputs to said identified one switch output; and

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming according to said programming schedule over a cable television distribution system.

19. A method of controlling at an intermediate television transmission station a transmission of units of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer for controlling the transmission of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said units of television programming on different channels from at least one remote television programming source at said intermediate television transmission station;

selectively receiving a control signal transmitted repeatedly from said at least one remote television programming source at specified time intervals;

identifying an input channel based on said control signal;

receiving, from a source separate from said at least one remote television programming source and prior to receiving said units of television programming, a programming schedule designating for at least one of said units of television programming;

(a) an output channel to be used; and

(b) a time said at least one of said units of television programming is to be transmitted to said subscriber station;

automatically selecting and storing said at least one of said units of television programming at a local programming source based on said control signal and said programming schedule;

assembling, at said intermediate television transmission station, a transmission including said at least one of said units of television programming based on said control signal and said programming schedule; and

transmitting said at least one of said units of television programming from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station at said time and over said output channel according to said programming schedule.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of logging said step of transmitting.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said intermediate television transmission station has a plurality of said output channels to be used in transmitting said units of television programming to said subscriber station, said step of transmitting further comprising the steps of:

communicating switch control signals to a switch; and

configuring said switch to communicate said at least one of said units of television programming from said identified input channel.

28. A method of controlling a transmission of units of television programming to a subscriber station from a transmission station comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said transmission station, a first plurality of said units of television programming from a remote programming source over multiple communications channels;

storing a second plurality of said units of television programming on a local programming source at said transmission station;

selectively receiving a plurality of signals transmitted repeatedly from said remote programming source at specified time intervals;

receiving, at a computer at said transmission station, a programming schedule that designates for at least one unit of said units of television programming;

(a) an output channel to be used in transmitting; and

(b) a time for transmitting to said subscriber station;

automatically selecting and storing said at least one unit of said units of television programming onto a local programming source based upon said programming schedule and at least one of said plurality of received signals;

generating, at said transmission station, a transmission including said at least one unit of said units of television programming based on said plurality of signals and said programming schedule; and

automatically transmitting said at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station at said time and on said channel designated by said programming schedule.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising a step of logging the step of automatically transmitting said at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein said step of storing comprises the steps of:

loading a plurality of prerecorded ones of said units of television programming onto said local programming source; and

storing said second plurality of said units of television programming on said local programming source.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein said step of receiving a plurality of signals comprises the step of receiving said plurality of signals from said remote programming source, each of said signals identifying either one unit of said units of television programming or a source of one unit of said units of television programming.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said step of receiving said programming schedule comprises the steps of:

receiving said programming schedule from a remote information source; and

storing said received programming schedule.

33. An apparatus for controlling a transmission of units of television programming to a subscriber station, said apparatus comprising:

one or more receivers for receiving a first plurality of said units of said television programming, said first plurality of said units are received on multiple communications channels and a plurality of signals from a remote programming source, said plurality of signals being transmitted repeatedly at specified time intervals;

a television programming storage device for storing a second plurality of said television programming units;

a switch having inputs operatively connected to said one or more receivers and said television programming storage device, said switch having one or more outputs operatively connected to one or more output channels;

an input device for inputting prior to said one or more receivers receiving said first plurality of said units of television programming a programming schedule, said programming schedule designating for at least one unit of said units of television programming;

(a) a time to transmit to said subscriber station; and

(b) one of said one or more output channels to be used for transmitting to said subscriber station; and

a computer operatively connected to said switch and said television programming storage device, said computer receiving said input programming schedule from said input device, said computer (a) identifying and selecting said at least one unit of said units of television programming by processing said plurality of signals and said programming schedule from said first plurality of units of television programming and said second plurality of units of television programming, (b) selectively assembling said first plurality of units of television program, and (c) configuring said switch to transmit said selected at least one of said units of television programming to said subscriber station at said time and on said one of said one or more output channels according to said programming schedule.

34. A method of controlling a transmission of television programming at a television transmission station, said television transmission station having a computer controlling the communication of television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving units of television programming on multiple channels at said television transmission station, each unit of said units of television programming including an embedded control instruction;

selectively storing said units of television programming with said embedded control instructions at a television programming storage device based on said embedded control instructions;

inputting to said computer, prior to receiving said units of television programming, a programming schedule indicating for each of said units of television programming a time and an output channel to be used in transmitting each said unit of television programming to a subscriber station;

automatically outputting each of said units of television programming from said television programming storage device, each of said units of television programming having said control instruction embedded therein based on said programming schedule;

detecting said control instruction in each of said units of television programming outputted from said television programming storage device; and

automatically transmitting each of said units of television programming outputted from said television programming storage device to at least one subscriber station at said time and on said output channel indicated by said programming schedule in response to detecting said control instruction.

35. A method of communicating signals from an intermediate television transmission station, said intermediate television transmission station comprising a plurality of transmitters and a computer for controlling a communication of information, said method comprising the steps of:

selectively receiving an information transmission from a remote source, said information transmission comprising a plurality of signals;

inputting from a remote information source, prior to receiving said information transmission, information that designates an output channel or frequency at a time for communicating or transmitting said received plurality of signals to a viewer or user, each of said plurality of transmitters transmitting over one or more output channels or frequencies;

storing, at said intermediate television transmission station said information inputted from said remote information source;

automatically comparing at least a portion of said received plurality of signals to said stored inputted information to select at least one of said plurality of signals;

automatically determining an output channel or frequency at a time designated for said at least one of said plurality of signals based on said step of comparing, wherein said stored inputted information includes said time and said output channel designated for said at least one of said plurality of signals;

selecting at least one of said plurality of transmitters at said intermediate television transmission station, said selected transmitter transmitting over said output channel or frequency at said time designated for said selected at least one of said plurality of signals;

transferring said selected at least one of said plurality of signals to said selected transmitter; and

transmitting said selected at least one of said plurality of signals from said intermediate television transmission station to a viewer or user over said designated output channel or frequency at said time using said selected transmitter.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said selected at least one of said plurality of signals comprises a unit of electronic or computer data, said unit comprising an identification portion and an information portion, said step of comparing comprises comparing said identification portion to said stored inputted information.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said selected at least one of said plurality of signals comprises a unit of television or radio programming and an embedded identification signal, said step of inputting comprises inputting a programming schedule that designates an output channel or frequency and a time for said unit of television programming, said step of comparing comprises the step of comparing said embedded identification signal of said unit of television programming to said inputted programming schedule.

38. A method of communicating signals at a television transmission station, said television transmission station having a receiver or input device for receiving or inputting programming, at least one storage device for storing received or inputted programming, a transmitter and a computer for controlling said receiving, storing, processing, and transmitting of programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, either via said receiver or said input device, a unit of programming with other units of said programming on different communications channels;

each of said unit and said other units includes an identification signal that identifies said unit or said other units of programming;

receiving and storing at said television transmission station, prior to receiving said unit of programming and said other units of said programming on different communications channels, schedule information that designates for said unit of programming;

(a) a time to transmit said unit to a receiver station; and

(b) an output channel or frequency for transmitting said unit to said receiver station;

automatically determining, using said computer a storage location of said unit of programming based on said identification signal and said schedule information;

storing at said storage location said received unit of programming with said identification signal that identifies said unit of programming, said unit of programming including audio;

assembling, at said television transmission station, a transmission including said stored unit of programming based on said identification signal and said schedule programming; and

transmitting, using said transmitter said transmission to said receiver station at said time and on said output channel or frequency according to said schedule information.