Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,865,920 B1
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• 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): Park, Chan S
• Application Number:
  US08/444,758
• Time in Patent Office: 5,709 Days
• Field of Search: 725 27- 28, 725/49, 380210-212, 380/218, 709245-247, 370/270
• US Class Current: 725/38
• 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 communicating programming to subscribers in a network, said network including one or more programming origination stations, a plurality of intermediate transmission stations, and a plurality of subscriber stations, each intermediate transmission station receiving programming from one of said origination stations and retransmitting said received programming to at least one of said subscriber stations, each intermediate transmission station including a plurality of storage locations and a switch operatively connected to said plurality of storage locations, said method comprising the steps of:

storing at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations data of predetermined capacities;

transmitting, from at least one of said one or more programming origination stations, a plurality of units of audio or video programming to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations;

transmitting from said at least one of said one or more programming origination stations to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations data that identify said units of audio or video programming or a subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming;

processing said stored data of said predetermined capacities at each intermediate transmission station to identify one of said plurality of storage locations at which to store at least one of said plurality of units of audio or video programming, wherein said identified storage locations are different for each of said plurality of units of audio or video programming;

controlling said switch at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to receive and store said units of audio or video programming at said identified one of plurality of storage locations in accordance with said step of processing stored data of said predetermined capacities;

processing said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming at each intermediate transmission station to determine a period of time for which to store said units of audio or video programming;

controlling said switch at each intermediate transmission station to to transfer said at least one of said units of programming from said identified one of said plurality of storage locations to another of said plurality of storage locations in accordance with said step of processing said stored data of said predetermined capacities and said step processing said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming; and

controlling said switch each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to transmit said received and stored units of audio or video programming to at least one of said subscriber stations in accordance with said step of processing said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said switch at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations includes a plurality of inputs or a plurality of outputs and further comprising the step of storing data of predetermined characteristics at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations, said data of predetermined characteristics specifying at least one source of input to or device that receives output from said switch.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of programming a computer to control at least one intermediate transmission station according to said stored predetermined characteristics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations transmits said units of audio or video programming to a subscriber in a broadcast or cablecast programming channel transmission, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving from said one or more programming origination stations a signal including some other units of programming of said broadcast or cablecast programming channel transmission; and

controlling each switch at said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to communicate said other units of programming from a receiver to a transmitter.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

communicating a schedule to at least one controller; and

controlling at least one intermediate transmission station to communicate said units of programming according to said schedule.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said switch at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations comprises one or more of a digital switch and a matrix switch.

7. A method of communicating programming to subscribers in a network, said network including one or more programming origination stations, a plurality of intermediate transmission stations, and a plurality of subscriber stations, each intermediate transmission station receiving audio or video programming from said origination stations, each intermediate transmission stations including one or more selective communications devices and a plurality of storage locations, said method comprising the steps of:

passing a plurality of units of audio or video programming to a transmitter at said one or more programming origination stations;

passing to said transmitter at said one or more programming origination stations, data identifying said units of audio or video programming or subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming, said data effective to instruct;

at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to indicate when to retransmit said plurality of units of audio or video programming to at least one of said plurality of subscriber stations, wherein data of one or more predetermined transmission station capacities is processed at said at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to identify one of said plurality of storage locations at which to store at least one said plurality of units of audio or video programming,

wherein said identified storage locations are different for each of said plurality of units of audio or video programming, and

wherein said stored at least one of said plurality of units of programming is transferred from said identified one of said plurality of storage locations to another of said plurality of storage locations based on said data identifying said units of audio or video programming or subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming and said data of one or more predetermined transmission station capacities; and

transmitting said plurality of units of audio or video programming and said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or a subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said one or more selective communications devices at said at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations comprise a switch with a plurality of outputs and said predetermined transmission station capacities specify a plurality of storage devices and/or transmitters operatively connected to said plurality of outputs.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said one or more selective communications devices at said at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations comprise a switch with a plurality of inputs and outputs and said predetermined transmission station capacities specify a plurality of storage devices and/or receivers operatively connected to said plurality of inputs and outputs.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said one or more selective communications devices at said at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations comprise a plurality of storage locations, said method further comprising the step of embedding said data in a signal including said plurality of units of audio or video programming before transmitting said plurality of units of audio or video programming to said at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said data that identify said units of audio or video programming comprise a schedule, said method further comprising the step of transmitting at least some of said schedule to said at least one of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations before transmitting said plurality of units of audio or video programming.

12. An intermediate transmission station, comprising:

a first receiver that receives from one or more remote programming origination stations a plurality of units of audio or video programming and data that identify said units of audio or video programming or a subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming;

a first storage device that stores data of predetermined capacities;

a first switch operatively connected to said first receiver that communicates said units of audio or video programming;

a plurality of second storage devices operatively connected to at least one of said first receiver and said first switch for storing said units of audio or video programming;

a transmitter operatively connected to at least one of said first switch and said plurality of second storage devices to transmit said plurality of units of audio or video programming to a subscriber station at a timing determined by processing said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or a subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming; and

a first controller that processes said data of one or more predetermined capacities to identify one of said plurality of second storage devices at which to store at least one of said units of audio or video programming, that controls said first switch to store said at least one of said units of audio or video programming at said identified one of said plurality of second storage devices in accordance with processing said data of one or more predetermined capacities, that processes said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or a subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming, that controls said first switch to transfer said stored at least one of said units of audio or video programming from said identified one of said plurality of second storage devices to another of said plurality of storage devices, and that controls said first switch to communicate said units of audio or video programming to said transmitter,

wherein said identified storage locations are different for each of said units of audio or video programming.

13. The intermediate transmission station of claim 12, further comprising a second receiver operatively connected to said first switch that receives one or more broadcast or cablecast programming channels from said one or more remote programming origination stations.

14. The intermediate transmission station of claim 13, further comprising a second switch operatively connected to said second receiver that communicates additional units of audio or video programming received in said one or more broadcast or cablecast programming channels to said plurality of second storage devices.

15. The intermediate transmission station of claim 13, further comprising a first detector operatively connected to at least one of said first receiver and said second receiver that detects said data.

16. The intermediate transmission station of claim 13, further comprising a second detector operatively connected to at least one of said first receiver and said second receiver that detects predetermined automatic processing information.

17. The intermediate transmission station of claim 12, wherein said first switch is operatively connected to said second storage device, said station further comprising:

a second switch operatively connected to said plurality of second storage devices; and

a second controller operatively connected to said second switch that controls said second switch to communicate said units of programming to at least one of said plurality of second storage devices.

18. The intermediate transmission station of claim 17, further comprising a third controller operatively connected to said plurality of second storage devices that controls said plurality of second storage devices to store or communicate said programming.

19. The intermediate transmission station of claim 18, further comprising a detector operatively connected to one or more of said first controller, said second controller, and said third controller that detects automatic processing information.

20. A method of communicating audio or video programming to subscribers in a network, said network including one or more programming origination stations, a plurality of intermediate transmission stations, and a plurality of subscriber stations, each intermediate transmission station receiving a plurality of units of audio or video programming from one of said origination stations and retransmitting at least one of said received units of audio or video programming to at least one of said subscriber stations, each intermediate transmission station including a plurality of storage devices, said method comprising the steps of:

storing at each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations predetermined intermediate transmission station capacities;

transmitting, from at least one of said one or more programming origination stations, predetermined intermediate transmission station automatic processing information to said plurality of intermediate transmitter stations;

transmitting, from said at least one of said one or more programming origination stations, a plurality of units of audio or video programming to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations;

transmitting from said at least one of said one or more programming origination stations to said plurality of intermediate transmission stations data that identify said units of audio or video programming or a subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming;

controlling each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to receive and store at least one of said plurality of units of audio or video programming for a period of time, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations processes said predetermined intermediate transmission station capacities to identify one of said plurality of storage devices at which to store said at least one of said plurality of units of audio or video programming, wherein said identified storage devices are different for each of said units of audio or video programming;

controlling each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to transfer said at least one of said units of audio or video programming from said identified one of a plurality of storage devices to another of said plurality of storage devices, wherein each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations processes said predetermined intermediate transmission station capacities and said data that identify said units of audio or video programming or subject matter included in said units of audio or video programming for transferring said at least one of said units of audio or video programming from said identified one of a plurality of storage devices to said another of said plurality of storage devices; and

controlling each of said plurality of intermediate transmission stations to transmit said received and stored at least one of said plurality of units of audio or video programming to at least one subscriber station based on processing said predetermined intermediate transmission station automatic processing information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said predetermined intermediate transmission station capacities and said predetermined intermediate transmission station automatic processing information is processed according to a schedule, said method further comprising the step of transmitting a signal which operates at least one of said intermediate transmission stations to communicate said schedule to one of a computer and a memory.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said predetermined capacities applies to a programmable device and said predetermined intermediate transmission station automatic processing information comprise operating instructions which program said device.