Signal processing apparatus and methods
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of controlling the display of an image at a receiver station, said receiver station including a receiver, an image output device, at least one memory operatively connected to at least one of said receiver and said image output device, and a control signal detector operatively connected to said at least one memory, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing in said at least one memory, information which is capable of communicating at least a portion of an image;
receiving one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission, said one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission including a control signal;
determining the absence in said at least one memory of complete generated image data based on said step of receiving said control signal; and
clearing at least a portion of said at least one memory based on said step of determining the absence of complete generated image data.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
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.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the display of an image at a receiver station, said receiver station including a receiver, an image output device, at least one memory operatively connected to at least one of said receiver and said image output device, and a control signal detector operatively connected to said at least one memory, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing in said at least one memory, information which is capable of communicating at least a portion of an image; receiving one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission, said one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission including a control signal; determining the absence in said at least one memory of complete generated image data based on said step of receiving said control signal; and clearing at least a portion of said at least one memory based on said step of determining the absence of complete generated image data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of controlling the display of an image at a receiver station, said receiver station including a receiver, an image output device, a memory operatively connected to at least one of said receiver and said image output device, and a control signal detector operatively connected to said memory, comprising the steps of:
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(1) originating an information transmission at a transmitter station; (2) originating a control signal; and (3) transmitting said information transmission and said control signal, wherein said control signal is operative to enable said receiver station (i) to determine an absence of complete generated image data based on detection of said control signal and (ii) to clear at least a portion of said memory based on said step of determining the absence of complete generated image data, said memory including information which is capable of communicating at least a portion of said image.
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20. A method of controlling the display of an image at a receiver station, said receiver station including a receiver capable of receiving a transmission from a transmitter station, an image output device, a memory operatively connected to at least one of said receiver and said image output device, and a control signal detector operatively connected to said memory, comprising the steps of:
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(1) originating an information transmission to be transmitted; (2) originating an instruct signal; wherein said instruct signal effects said transmitter station to generate a control signal, wherein said control signal is operative to enable said receiver station to clear at least a portion of said memory based on a determination of the absence of complete generated image data, said memory including information which is capable of communicating at least some of said image; and (3) transmitting said information transmission and said instruct signal.
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21. A method of controlling the display of television programming at a receiver station, wherein said receiver station includes a monitor for displaying said television programming, a receiver operatively connected to said monitor, and a processor operatively connected to at least one of said monitor and said receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission including a television signal; passing at least a portion of said information transmission to said processor; determining the absence of complete generated television image data by processing information at least one of included in and received with said television signal; determining a location of subsequent information for advancing to based on said step of determining the absence of complete generated television image data; advancing to the subsequent information received in said information transmission; and preventing said monitor from displaying an incomplete television image based on said step of determining the absence of complete generate television image data, wherein said method controls the display of said television programming at said receiver station. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of controlling the display of television programming at a receiver station, wherein said receiver station includes a monitor for displaying television programming, a receiver operatively connected to said monitor, and a processor operatively connected to at least one of said monitor and said receiver, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting from a transmitter station an information transmission including a television signal; generating at least one control signal; and transmitting said at least one control signal, wherein said at least one control signal; (a) effects said receiver station to determine the absence of complete generated television image data by processing information at least one of included in and received with said television signal; and (b) prevents said monitor from displaying an incomplete television image based on said determining the absence of complete generate television image data, wherein said receiver station clears the incomplete television image data based on said information at least one of included in and received with said television signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of controlling the display of television programming at a receiver station, wherein said receiver station includes a monitor for displaying television programming, a receiver operatively connected to said monitor, a processor operatively connected to said monitor and said receiver, and a memory, said method comprising the steps of:
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originating an information transmission including a television signal to be transmitted; originating at least one instruct signal; wherein said at least one instruct signal enables a transmitter station to originate at least one control signal, wherein said at least one control signal is effective at said receiver station to determine the absence of complete generated television image data at said memory by processing data at said memory, prevent said monitor from displaying said incomplete television image based on said step of determining the absence of complete generate television image data, and clear at least a portion said incomplete television image data at said memory; and transmitting said information transmission and said at least one instruct signal, wherein said method controls the display of said television programming at said receiver station. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification