Signal processing apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A method of processing information at a receiver station, said receiver station having a data storage device for storing records and a processor for creating and controlling said records, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a transmission from a programming source, said transmission including programming and a record control instruction, wherein said programming includes audio and said received transmission further comprises identification data relating to said programming;
detecting said record control instruction from said received transmission and passing said record control instruction to said processor;
passing said identification data relating to said programming to said processor;
storing said identification data relating to said programming;
selecting information from at least one of a plurality of devices at said receiver station and assembling a record according to said record control instruction, with said record including said selected information; and
communicating said assembled record to a remote device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
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.
880 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of processing information at a receiver station, said receiver station having a data storage device for storing records and a processor for creating and controlling said records, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a transmission from a programming source, said transmission including programming and a record control instruction, wherein said programming includes audio and said received transmission further comprises identification data relating to said programming; detecting said record control instruction from said received transmission and passing said record control instruction to said processor; passing said identification data relating to said programming to said processor; storing said identification data relating to said programming; selecting information from at least one of a plurality of devices at said receiver station and assembling a record according to said record control instruction, with said record including said selected information; and communicating said assembled record to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for calculating statistics on the availability and use of a plurality of apparatus at a user station, each of said plurality of apparatus having a processor to receive signals and record the status of said each of said plurality of apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving programming at said user station from a programming source; detecting the presence of said received programming at said user station by at least one of said plurality of apparatus; identifying said at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming in said step of detecting; storing a data record at said user station that identifies (1) said received programming and (2) said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming from said step of identifying; and gathering statistics on the availability of said plurality of apparatus at said user station over a period of time by processing said stored data record from said step of storing; transferring said data record from said step of storing to a remote data collection station; and calculating said statistics on the availability of said plurality of apparatus at said user station over said period of time by processing said data record transferred to said remote data collection station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for calculating statistics on the availability and use of a plurality of apparatus at a user station, each of said plurality of apparatus having a processor to receive signals and record the status of said each of said plurality of apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving programming at said user station from a programming source; detecting the presence of said received programming at said user station by at least one of said plurality of apparatus; identifying said at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming in said step of detecting; storing a data record at said user station that identifies (1) said received programming and (2) said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming from said step of identifying; gathering statistics on the availability of said plurality of apparatus at said user station over a period of time by processing said stored data record from said step of storing; executing a computer program at said subscriber station, said computer program receiving said data records; and searching said data records with said computer program to find a particular record from said stored data records.
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Specification