Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 8,558,950 B1
• Filed: 05/16/1995
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• 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): Rao, Andy
• Application Number:
  US08/441,027
• Time in Patent Office: 6,727 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1- 2, 348 6- 7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/17, 3483841-496, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.3, 37524001-24029
• US Class Current: 348/460
• 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 providing statistics on at least one of availability, use and usage of signals at a user station, said user station having a computer for processing and outputting information in response to signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from a remote source;

passing an instruction included in said signal to said computer, said computer performing a function in response to said instruction;

selecting a portion of said signal;

selecting a local datum at said user station;

creating a record including said selected portion and said selected local datum; and

communicating said record to a remote device to confirm the performing of said function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said selected portion of said signal and said selected local datum indicates said function performed by said computer in response to said instruction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

passing said selected portion of said signal to a processor; and

discarding duplicate information at said processor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

appending an identifier to said record.

5. A method of providing statistics on at least one of availability, use and usage of signals at a user station, said user station having a computer for processing and outputting information in response to signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from one of a local and remote source;

passing an instruction included in said signal to said computer, said computer performing a function in response to said instruction;

selecting a local datum, said local datum including at least one of;

(1) a time datum;

(2) a source datum; and

(3) a user interest datum;

creating a record including (i) information pertaining to said instruction passed to said computer and (ii) said selected local datum;

formatting a digital signal including said created record; and

communicating said digital signal to a remote data collection site.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

passing said information pertaining to said instruction to a processor; and

discarding duplicate information at said processor.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

appending an identifier to said record.

8. A method of providing statistics on at least one availability, use and usage of signals at a user station, said user station having a computer for processing and outputting information in response to signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from a local or remote source;

passing an instruction included in said signal to said computer, said computer performing a function in response to said instruction;

communicating output from said computer according to said function;

selecting a local datum, said local datum including at least one of;

(1) a time datum;

(2) a source datum; and

(3) a user interest datum;

creating a record including (i) information pertaining to said communicated output, and (ii) said selected local datum;

formatting a digital signal including said created record; and

communicating said digital signal to a remote data collection site.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

passing said communicated output to said processor; and

discarding duplicate information at said processor.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

appending an identifier to said created record.

11. A method of assembling a record at a user station, said user station outputting a media presentation comprising at least one of a simultaneous and sequential presentation of media programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving media programming, said media programming at least one of (i) from at least two different programming sources and (ii) in at least two different programming formats;

identifying at least two signals of said media programming based on said step of receiving said media programming;

assembling and formatting a record entry indicating said at least two signals from said step of identifying; and

storing said assembled and formatted record entry at at least one of a remote data collection site and said user station.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least two signals each control a device at said user station.

13. A method of assembling a record at a user station, said user station outputting a media presentation comprising at least one of a simultaneous and sequential presentation of media programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving media programming, said media programming at least one of (i) from at least two different programming sources and (ii) in at least two different programming formats;

processing said media programming for output to at least two output devices at said user station;

outputting said media programming at said at least two output devices at said user station;

identifying at least two signals of said outputted media programming based on said step of outputting;

assembling a record entry indicating said at least two signals from said step of identifying;

storing said assembled record entry at one of a remote data collection site and said user station; and

determining the outputting of said media programming based on said assembled record entry.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of controlling said at least two output devices in response to instructions contained in said media programming.

15. A user station apparatus comprising:

a receiver device for receiving at least one of programming and data from one of a local and a remote source;

an output device for outputting said received at least one of programming and data;

a signal decoder operatively connected to said receiver device and said output device for communicating said at least one of programming and data and identifying;

(1) a unit of said received at least one of programming and data;

(2) said output device outputting said received at least one of programming and data; and

(3) said at least one of a local and a remote source of said at least one of programming and data;

a signal processor for receiving and processing information communicated from said signal decoder, whereby said signal processor at least one of;

     1) creates and formats a record and

     2) gathers statistics on usage of said at least one of programming and data usage at said output device.

16. A method of processing information at a receiver station, said receiver station having a data storage device for storing records and a processor for controlling assembly of record information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a programming transmission from a programming source, said programming transmission including programming and a record control instruction;

detecting said record control instruction and passing said record control instruction to said processor;

generating information indicating a function performed at said receiver station;

assembling a record according to said record control instruction, said record including said generated information;

formatting a digital signal including said assembled record; and

communicating said digital signal to a remote device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said programming transmission further comprises identification data relating to said programming, said method further comprising the steps of:

passing said identification data relating to said programming to said processor; and

storing said identification data relating to said programming.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

selecting some information of said receiver station; and

including said selected information in said record.

19. 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 the records, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a transmission from a programming source, said transmission including programming and a record control instruction;

detecting said record control instruction from said received transmission and passing said record control instruction to said processor;

executing a predetermined procedure in accordance with said record control instruction;

collecting information from at least one of a plurality of devices at said receiver station and assembling a record according to said predetermined procedure, with said record including said collected information;

formatting a digital signal including said assembled record; and

communicating said digital signal to a remote device.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

processing said assembled record to determine a function performed at said receiver station.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of processing is performed at said receiver station.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said step of processing is performed remote from said receiver station.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said programming includes television programming.

24. The method of claim 19, where said received programming transmission further comprises identification data relating to said programming, said method further comprising the steps of:

passing said identification data relating to said programming to said processor; and

storing said identification data relating to said programming.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said information concerns a state of said receiver station.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein said programming source includes a video disk recorder.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein said programming source includes a video disk player.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein said programming source includes a multimedia player.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein said programming source is a remote programming source.

30. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of passing said programming to a post processing device.

31. A method for calculating statistics on the availability and programming 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:

receiving programming at said user station from at least one programming source;

detecting the presence of said received programming at said user station by said each of said plurality of apparatus;

identifying said each of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming in said step of detecting;

storing data records at said user station that identify (1) said received programming and (2) said identified one each of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming from said step of identifying;

gathering statistics on the availability and use of said programming and said plurality of apparatus at said user station over a period of time by processing said stored data records from said step of recording.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a television receiver.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a radio receiver.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a telephone.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a data line driver.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a video recorder.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a receiver of a video disk player.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a local video source.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a computer.

40. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a printer.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a computer output presentation device.

42. The method of claim 31 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a speaker.

43. The method of claim 31 wherein said programming source includes a local programming source located at said user station.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said programming source includes a manually loaded device.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said programming source includes a disk player.

46. The method of claim 31 wherein said programming source includes a remote data source.

47. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

executing a computer program at said subscriber station, said computer program receiving said data records;

searching said data records with said computer program to find a particular record from said stored data records.