Signal processing apparatus and methods
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of enabling a station of a particular kind to deliver complete programming, said station including a storage device, and said method comprising the steps of:
- storing programming at said storage device, said programming comprising a computer program and a portion to be completed by accessing prestored data at said station of a particular kind,wherein said computer program is operative to complete said portion when executed at said station of a particular kind, said execution of said computer program enabling a processor at said station of a particular kind to select a specific datum from said prestored data and place information, which results from a processing of said selected datum, into said portion to be completed, thereby completing said programming; and
storing a control signal, which is operative at least one particular kind of station, said control signal operative to cause said execution of said computer program,whereby said station of a particular kind is enabled to deliver complete programming.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexamination
Accused Products
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.
1203 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of enabling a station of a particular kind to deliver complete programming, said station including a storage device, and said method comprising the steps of:
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storing programming at said storage device, said programming comprising a computer program and a portion to be completed by accessing prestored data at said station of a particular kind, wherein said computer program is operative to complete said portion when executed at said station of a particular kind, said execution of said computer program enabling a processor at said station of a particular kind to select a specific datum from said prestored data and place information, which results from a processing of said selected datum, into said portion to be completed, thereby completing said programming; and storing a control signal, which is operative at least one particular kind of station, said control signal operative to cause said execution of said computer program, whereby said station of a particular kind is enabled to deliver complete programming. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification