Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 8,621,547 B1
• Filed: 05/16/1995
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• 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): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US08/442,165
• Time in Patent Office: 6,804 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/227, 455/228, 348/705, 348/722, 348/734, 348/1, 348/3, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 725/78, 725/80, 725/82, 725135-138, 725/140, 725/141, 725/144, 725/146, 725151-153
• US Class Current: 725/135
• 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 controlling, at an intermediate television transmission station, a transmission of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer for controlling the storage and communication of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving units of said television programming on different channels, by said intermediate television transmission station, said units of said television programming originating from one or more remote television programming origination sources;

selectively receiving signals on at least one of said different channels containing said units originating from said one or more remote television programming origination sources, each of said signals identifying one of said received units of said television programming or a source of said one of said received units of said television programming;

inputting said signals to said computer;

storing at least one of said received units of said television programming based on said signals and a programming schedule;

prior to receiving said units of said television programming on different channels, receiving and storing at said computer said programming schedule, said programming schedule originating from at least one schedule origination source separate from said one or more remote television programming origination sources and designating for said at least one of said stored units of said television programming;

(a) an output path to be used in transmitting said at least one of said stored units to said subscriber station; and

(b) a time for transmitting said at least one of said stored units to said subscriber station; and

automatically transmitting said at least one of said stored units from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station at said time and on said output path according to said programming schedule based on said step of receiving and storing said programming schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said intermediate television transmission station comprises a plurality of receivers for receiving said received units of said television programming and said signals, said step of inputting comprising the steps of:

selecting a specific receiver of said plurality of receivers; and

inputting said signals received by said selected specific receiver to said computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one stored unit of said television programming is stored at a local programming source of an information transmission containing said at least one stored unit of said television programming, said local programming source comprising a television programming storage device located at said intermediate television transmission station for storing said at least one stored unit of said television programming and originating said transmission of television programming.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of logging said step of automatically transmitting.

5. A method of controlling, at an intermediate television transmission station, a transmission of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station comprising a computer for controlling the transmission of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at said intermediate television transmission station on different channels, first units of said television programming, to be communicated to said subscriber station, said first units of said television programming originating from one or more remote television programming sources;

loading a plurality of second units of said television programming, to be communicated to said subscriber station, onto a local programming transmission source located at said intermediate television transmission station;

receiving at said intermediate television transmission station a plurality of signals originating from said one or more remote television programming sources, each of said signals designating a unit of said first units and said second units;

prior to receiving said first units of said television programming at said intermediate television transmitter station, receiving and storing at said computer a programming schedule, said programming schedule originating from a one or more sources separate from said one or more remote television programming sources and designating a time and an output frequency for transmitting each of said designated units to said subscriber station;

comparing said each of said signals to data in said programming schedule stored at the intermediate television transmission station, said data identifying said unit of said first units and said second units, and said output frequency and said time, to be used in transmitting said identified unit to said subscriber station;

selecting and locating, in response to each of said signals and said step of comparing, said unit designated by each of said signals from said first units and said second units;

automatically selecting and storing at least one of said designated units at a selected storage device at said intermediate television transmission station based on said signals and said programming schedule; and

automatically transmitting said located unit to said subscriber station on said output frequency and at said time according to said stored programming schedule.

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

determining based on said programming schedule whether said unit of said first units and said second units designated by said each of said signals will be received from said one or more remote sources and should be communicated immediately upon receipt to said subscriber station, or whether said designated unit is loaded onto said local programming source and should be output therefrom to said subscriber station, each of said second units loaded onto said local programming source being stored at a storage location on said local programming source; and

identifying said storage location of said unit of said first units and said second units designated by said each of said signals if said designated unit is loaded onto said local programming source.

7. The method of claim 5 and further comprising the step of logging said step of automatically transmitting.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of receiving said first units of said television programming further comprises the step of receiving data identifying said units.

9. An apparatus located at an intermediate television transmission station for controlling a transmission of units of television programming to a plurality of subscriber stations, said apparatus comprising:

a first receiver that receives multiple units of television programming and identifiers on different channels, said multiple units of television programming originating from one or more television programming sources;

a second receiver that receives a programming schedule prior to said first receiver receiving said multiple units of television programming said programming schedule including information originating from one or more sources different from the one or more television programming sources and designating for at least one unit of said multiple units of television programming;

(a) a time to transmit to said plurality of subscribers stations; and

(b) a transmission path to be used for transmitting said at least one unit of said multiple units of television programming to said plurality of subscribers stations;

a schedule storage device that stores said programming schedule;

a television programming storage device that stores said at least one unit of said multiple units of television programming and said identifiers;

a switch having inputs operatively connected to said first receiver and said television programming storage device, said switch having one or more outputs operatively connected to one or more of said transmission path;

a computer operatively connected to said switch and said television programming storage device, said computer having access to said programming schedule, said computer selecting said at least one unit of said multiple units of television programming based upon said identifiers and said programming schedule, and

said computer controlling said switch and controlling said television programming storage device to automatically transmit said at least one unit of said multiple units of television programming from said television programming storage device to said plurality of subscriber stations at said time and on said transmission path according to said programming schedule.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said television programming storage device comprises a plurality of television programming storage devices connected to said switch, said computer further configuring said switch to select a specific one of said plurality of television programming storage devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a first identifier of said identifiers designates said at least one of multiple units for storage or delayed communication to said plurality of subscriber stations, wherein said computer further operates to control said switch to communicate said at least one of said multiple units to said television programming storage device and controls said television programming storage device to store said at least one of said multiple units.

12. A method of controlling at an intermediate television transmission station a transmission of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer for controlling the transmission of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving multiple units of said television programming on different channels, said multiple units of said television programming originating from one or more remote television programming sources;

receiving a signal from one or more remote sources, the signal identifying at least one of received multiple units of said television programming;

selectively storing a plurality of units of said received multiple units of television programming on a local programming transmission source of said transmission of television programming;

receiving and storing, prior to receiving said multiple units of said television programming, a programming schedule, said programming schedule including information originating from one or more sources separate from said one or more remote television programming sources, said programming schedule designating for at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

(a) an output transmission path to be used in transmitting to said subscriber station said at least one of said multiple units of television programming; and

(b) time for transmitting to said subscriber station said at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

detecting said signal;

passing said detected signal to said computer;

identifying that said detected signal is a predetermined signal based on said programming schedule; and

automatically transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station in said transmission in response to said step of identifying and on said output transmission path and at said time according to said programming schedule.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said detected signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-delay signal, and said method further comprises storing said at least one of said multiple units of television programming in response to said step of identifying said instruct-to-delay signal, thereby allowing a delayed transmission of said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one of said multiple units of television programming is identified by said instruct-to-delay signal.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said at least one of said multiple units of television programming is identified by being transmitted with said instruct-to-delay signal from said remote television programming source.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said signal is one of a plurality of signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-transmit signal, said step of transmitting being performed in response to said step of identifying said instruct-to-transmit signal, said step of transmitting comprises the steps of:

selecting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from one of;

(a) stored units stored on said local programming transmission source; and

(b) a plurality of said multiple units of television programming which are not stored on said local programming transmission source; and

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station at least one of at a time and on an output transmission path according to said programming schedule.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said detected signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-determine-input signal, and said step of transmitting comprises the steps of:

selecting a unit from one of;

(a) stored units stored on said local programming transmission source, said local programming transmission source being operatively connected to a first input of a switch; and

(b) a plurality of said multiple units of television programming which are not stored on said local programming transmission source, said receiver being operatively connected to a second input of said switch, said switch operatively connecting one of said first and second inputs to a switch output;

identifying one of said first and second inputs from which to transmit said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station in response to said instruct-to-determine-input signal;

configuring said switch to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said identified input to said switch output;

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said switch output to said subscriber station according to said programming schedule.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said detected signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-determine-output signal, and said step of communicating comprises the steps of:

selecting a unit from one of;

(a) stored units stored on said local programming transmission source; and

(b) a plurality of said multiple units of television programming which are not stored on said local programming transmission source;

identifying an output transmission path over which to transmit said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station in response to said instruct-to-determine-output signal; and

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming to said subscriber station over said identified output transmission path.

19. The method of either of claim 13, 16, or 18 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the steps of:

communicating a switch control signal to a switch;

configuring said switch in response to said switch control signal to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from a selected input of said switch to a selected output of said switch.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said signal is one of a plurality of different signals, said intermediate television transmission station comprising a switch operatively connecting first and second switch inputs to a plurality of switch outputs, each of said switch outputs operatively connected to at least one said output transmission path, said local programming transmission source and a receiver for receiving said multiple units of television programming operatively connected to said first and second switch inputs, respectively, said step of identifying comprises the step of identifying an instruct-to-transfer signal, and said step of transmitting comprises the steps of:

selecting a unit of programming from said stored units or said received unit;

identifying one of said first and second switch inputs from which to communicate said at least one of said multiple units of television programming;

identifying one of said switch outputs to which to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming, said identified switch output being identified through the designation of said output transmission path by said programming schedule;

communicating a switch control signal to said switch in response to said steps of identifying said one of said first and second switch inputs and said one switch output;

configuring said switch in response to said switch control signal to transfer said at least one of said multiple units of television programming from said identified one of said first and second switch inputs to said identified one switch output;

transmitting said at least one of said multiple units of television programming according to said programming schedule over a cable television distribution system.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of identifying a specific one of said at least one of said multiple units of television programming on the basis of a unit identification signal embedded in said at least one of said of multiple units of television programming.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of storing comprises the steps of:

loading a plurality of prerecorded ones of said received multiple units of television programming onto said local programming transmission source; and

storing a plurality of said received multiple units of television programming on said local programming transmission source.

23. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a programming transmission via satellite from a television network, said programming transmission comprising said at least one of said multiple units of television programming and one or more digital signals embedded in said programming transmission.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of receiving said multiple units of said television programming further comprises the step of receiving data identifying said units.

28. The method of claim 3, 6, 12, 20, or 26 further comprising the step of logging a unit identification signal identifying at least one of:

(a) said time; and

(b) said transmission path.

25. A method of controlling at an intermediate television transmission station a transmission of units of television programming to a subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer for controlling the transmission of units of said television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said units of television programming on different channels at said intermediate television transmission station, said units of television programming originating from one or more remote television programming sources;

receiving a control signal transmitted from said at least one remote television programming source, said control signal identifying at least one unit of said received units of television programming;

selecting and storing said at least one unit of said received units of television programming in response to said control signal;

identifying an input path based on said control signal;

prior to receiving said units of television programming, receiving and storing at the intermediate television transmission station a programming schedule, said programming schedule information originating from one or more sources separate from said one or more remote television programming sources, said programming schedule designating for said stored at least one unit of said received units of television programming;

(a) a transmission path to be used for transmitting said at least one stored unit of said received units of television programming to said subscriber station; and

(b) a time said at least one stored unit of said received units of television programming is to be transmitted to said subscriber station; and

automatically transmitting said at least one stored unit of said received units of television programming from said intermediate television transmission station to said subscriber station at said time and over said transmission path according to said programming schedule.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said intermediate television transmission station has a plurality of said transmission paths to be used in transmitting said units of television programming to said subscriber station, said step of transmitting further comprising the steps of:

communicating switch control signals to a switch;

configuring said switch to communicate said at least one stored unit of said received units of television programming from said identified input path.

27. The method of claim 3, 6 or 26 further comprising the step of identifying a specific one unit of said received units on the basis of a unit identification signal embedded in said received unit.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of logging said step of automatically transmitting.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of receiving said units of television programming further comprises the step of receiving data identifying said units.

31. A method of controlling a transmission of units of television programming to a subscriber station from a television transmission station comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said television transmission station on different channels, a first plurality of said units of television programming, said first plurality of said units of television programming originating from a one or more remote television programming sources;

storing a second plurality of said units of said television programming on a local programming transmission source of an information transmission at said television transmission station;

receiving a plurality of signals from a remote source, each of said signals designating a unit of said units of television programming;

receiving and storing, at a computer at said television transmission station, a programming schedule, said programming schedule received prior to receiving said first plurality of said units of television programming, said programming schedule including information originating from one or more separate sources from said remote television programming sources, and designating for at least one unit of said units of television programming;

(a) an output data path to be used in transmitting said at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station; and

(b) a time for transmitting said at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station;

selecting and storing said at least one unit of said units of television programming based upon at least one of said plurality of received signals; and

automatically transmitting said information transmission containing said at least one stored unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station at said time and on said output data path designated by said programming schedule.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising a step of logging the step of automatically transmitting said at least one stored unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said step of storing said second plurality of units of television programming comprises the steps of:

loading a plurality of prerecorded ones of said second plurality of units of television programming onto said local programming transmission source; and

storing said second plurality of said units of television programming on said local programming transmission source.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of receiving said first plurality of said units of television programming further comprises the step of receiving data identifying said units.

35. An apparatus for controlling transmission of units of television programming to a subscriber station, said apparatus comprising:

one or more receivers that receive a first plurality of said units of said television programming and a plurality of signals on a plurality of channels, each of said plurality of signals designating a unit of said units of television programming and originating from one of a plurality of remote programming sources;

a television programming storage device that stores a second plurality of units of said television programming;

a switch having inputs operatively connected to said one or more receivers and said television programming storage device, said switch having one or more outputs operatively connected to one or more output paths;

an input device that receives and stores a programming schedule prior to said one or more receivers receiving said first plurality of said units of said television programming, said programming schedule including information originating from one or more sources separate from the plurality of remote programming sources and designating for at least one unit of said units of television programming;

(a) a time to transmit said at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station; and

(b) one of said one or more output paths to be used for transmitting said at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station; and

a computer operative connected to said switch and said television programming storage device, said computer receiving said programming schedule from said input device, said computer;

(a) automatically selecting said at least one unit of said units of television programming by processing said plurality of signals in accordance with said stored_programming schedule from said first plurality of units of television programming and said second plurality of units of television programming; and

(b) configuring said switch to automatically transmit said selected at least one unit of said units of television programming to said subscriber station at said time and on said one of said one or more output paths according to said stored programming schedule.

36. A method for identifying and broadcasting or cablecasting television programming in a television transmission station that comprises storage means capable of storing at least one unit of television programming, and unit identification information identifying each unit of said television programming, wherein said television transmission station also comprises a plurality of broadcast or cablecast transmission means, internal transfer means capable of transferring said television programming from said storage means to at least one selected broadcast or cablecast transmission means, control means for comparing identification information with schedule information, and controlling said internal transfer means, with each of said broadcast or cablecast transmission means capable of transmitting said television programming over an output transmission path, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a television transmission comprising units of television programming transmitted on different channels from one or more remote television programming sources and selectively storing the units of television programming at said storage means;

inputting, at said television transmission station prior to receiving a television transmission, said schedule information that identifies a time for broadcast or cablecast and an output transmission path for broadcast or cablecast of a stored unit of television programming;

storing said schedule information that identifies the time for broadcast or cablecast and the output transmission path for broadcast or cablecast of said stored unit of television programming;

locating, at said television transmission station, identification information in said television transmission that identifies said stored unit of television programming, said television transmission including television programming; and

determining that said identification information identifies said stored unit of television programming based on the schedule information, thereby to enable said television transmission station to broadcast or cablecast said stored unit of said television programming;

automatically broadcasting or cablecasting said stored unit of said television programming over said output transmission path at said time according to the stored schedule information to at least one receiver station.

37. A method of controlling the transmission of television programming at a television transmission station, said television transmission station having a computer controlling the transmission of television programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving units of television programming on different channels, said units of television programming originating from one or more remote television programming sources, each unit of said units of television programming including an embedded control instruction;

storing said units of television programming with said embedded control instructions at a television programming storage device;

prior to receiving said units of television programming, inputting to said computer and storing at said computer a programming schedule including information originating from one or more sources separate from said one or more remote television programming sources and indicating for each unit of said units of television programming a time and an output transmission frequency to be used in transmitting each said unit of said units of television programming to a subscriber station;

outputting each unit of said stored units of television programming from said television programming storage device, each unit of said stored units of programming having said control instruction embedded therein;

detecting said control instruction in each unit of said stored units of television programming outputted from said television programming storage device; and

automatically transmitting each unit of said stored units of television programming outputted from said television storage device to said subscriber station on said output transmission frequency at said time indicated by said programming schedule in response to detecting said control instruction.

38. A method of transmitting television programming from an intermediate television transmission station to a subscriber device at a television subscriber station, said intermediate television transmission station having a computer controlling a transmission of television programming, said subscriber station having a computer for controlling the transmission of received television programming to said subscriber device located at said television subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

embedding a control instruction in a unit of television programming received at the intermediate television transmission station from a television programming source, said control instruction providing instruction as to the transmission of said unit of television programming to said subscriber device at said television subscriber station;

automatically transmitting, based on said embedding step, said unit of television programming with said embedded control instruction from said transmission station to said television subscriber station at a frequency and on a communication path and at a time in accordance with a schedule previously received and stored at said intermediate television transmission station, said schedule originating from a source separate from said television programming source, wherein the schedule designating said unit of television programming said frequency and on said communication path and at said time;

said step of transmitting thereby enabling said television subscriber station to receive said unit of television programming and enabling said television subscriber station computer to detect said control instruction embedded in said unit of television programming, and enabling said television subscriber station computer to automatically transmit said unit of television programming to said subscriber device in accordance with said control instruction.

39. An apparatus located at a television transmission station for controlling the transmission of television programming, said apparatus comprising:

a programming storage device that stores and outputs an information transmission comprising television programming and control instructions embedded in said information transmission, wherein said television programming comprises a plurality of units received on different channels and originated from one or more remote television programming sources;

a switch operatively connected to said programming storage device, said switch comprising a plurality of output paths, with each output path capable of transmitting said information transmission to a subscriber station, said switch connecting said programming storage device to selected output paths;

a detector operatively connected to said programming storage device that detects the presence of said control instructions embedded in said information transmission;

a first computer that receives a programming schedule including information originated from one or more sources separate from the one or more remote television programming sources and stores the programming schedule prior to receiving said information transmission, said computer enabling response to said control instructions, said programming schedule designating;

(a) scheduled identification information designating said television programming;

(b) an output path to be used for transmitting said television programming to said subscriber station; and

(c) a time of transmission of said television programming to said subscriber station if said television programming is to be transmitted to said subscriber station; and

a second computer operatively connected to said programming storage device, said switch, said detector, and said first computer, said second computer configures said switch to automatically communicate said television programming from said programming storage device to said output path at said time according to said programming schedule.

40. An apparatus for controlling a communication of television programming, said apparatus comprising:

a switch comprising at least one input communication path and a plurality of output communication paths;

a plurality of programming recorder/players connected to said switch for recording and playing said television programming, said switch connecting said programming recorder/players selectively to at least one path of said plurality of output communication paths, wherein said television programming comprises a plurality of units received on different channels and originated from one or more remote television programming sources;

a detector operatively connected to a selected one of said plurality of programming recorder/players for detecting control instructions stored at said selected programming recorder/player;

an input device for receiving control signals originating from one or more sources different from the one or more remote television programming sources and storing the control signals at the apparatus prior to said apparatus receiving said television programming, the control signals designating for selected units of television programming;

a time for transmitting each unit of the selected units to a subscriber station; and

a channel for transmitting each unit of the selected units to the subscriber station;

a transmitter, operatively connected to said at least one path of said plurality of output communication paths, for automatically transmitting the selected units of television programming to said subscriber station on said channels and at said time according to the control signals; and

a computer operatively connected to said plurality of programming recorder/players, said switch, said transmitter and said detector, said computer controlling said selected programming recorder/player to locate and play selected television programming stored at said selected programming recorder/player, said computer configuring said switch to connect said selected programming recorder/player to said at least one path of said plurality of output communication paths, with said computer controlling said selected programming recorder/player and said switch in response to said control instructions and said control signals and to output said selected television programming at said subscriber station.

41. An apparatus for controlling a transmission of television programming, said apparatus comprising:

a switch having at least one transmission input path and at least one transmission output path;

a plurality of programming storage devices connected to said switch for storing and outputting said television programming, said switch connecting said storage devices selectively to said at least one transmission output path, wherein said television programming comprises a plurality of units received on different channels originating from one or more remote television programming sources;

a receiver that receives schedule information originating from one or more sources separate from the remote television programming sources and stores said schedule information at said apparatus prior to receiving units of television programming at the apparatus, the schedule information designating for the television programming;

a time for transmitting selected units of television programming to an addressable subscriber station; and

said at least one transmission output path for transmitting the selected units of television programming to the addressable subscriber station;

a transmitter, operatively connected to said at least one transmission output path, for transmitting said selected units of television programming to said addressable subscriber station at said time and over said at least one transmission output path;

a computer operatively connected to said storage devices, said transmitter, and said switch, said computer controlling a selected storage device to locate and output selected television programming stored at said selected storage device, said computer controlling said switch to connect said selected storage device to said at least one transmission output path connected to said transmitter, with said computer controlling said selected storage device, said transmitter and said switch in response to a control instruction to transmit selected television programming to at least one of an addressable remote station and one of said plurality of programming storage devices for a scheduled transmission to said addressable remote station using said at least one transmission output path; and

a detector operatively connected to said computer, said detector detecting said control instruction in an information transmission transmitted from a source different from a source of said television programming and inputting said control instruction to said computer.

42. An apparatus for controlling a transmission of television programming in response to control instructions, said apparatus comprising:

a switch comprising an input path for receiving an information transmission and an output path for transmitting said information transmission to a remote station, said information transmission comprising television programming and control instructions, wherein said television programming comprises a plurality of units received on different channels originating from one or more remote television programming sources;

a programming storage device operatively connected to said switch for receiving, storing and transmitting said information transmission;

an input device for receiving control signals originating from one or more sources separate from the one or more remote television programming sources and for storing the control signals at the apparatus prior to said apparatus receiving said information transmission, said control signals designating for the television programming;

a time for transmitting the television programming to said remote station; and

a frequency for use in transmitting the television programming to said remote station;

a computer operatively connected to said switch, said programming storage device and said input device for receiving said control instructions from said programming storage device and controlling said switch to receive television programming from said storage device for transmission to said remote station; and

the computer transmits television programming to said remote station in response to said control instructions and at said time over said frequency according to said control signals.

43. A television transmission station apparatus for storing and communicating television programming, said television transmission station apparatus comprising:

a storage device that stores and outputs units of information comprising television programming and control instructions, wherein said television programming comprises a plurality of units received on different channels and originated from one or more remote television programming sources;

an input device that receives control signals originating from one or more sources separate from the remote television programming sources and stores the control signals at said apparatus prior to said storage device storing said units of information, wherein said control signals designate for each unit of a plurality of selected units of television programming;

a time for transmitting the selected units of television programming to a receiver station; and

an output path for transmitting the selected units of television programming to the receiver station;

a transmitter connected to said storage device that communicates said selected units of television programming to said receiver station over at least one channel;

a decoder operatively connected to said storage device that detects said control instructions in said units of information;

a first controller operatively connected to said decoder that controls the detection of said control instructions by said decoder; and

a second controller operatively connected to said first controller, said storage device and said input device that controls said storage device to automatically output said selected units of television programming to said transmitter using said output path and at said time in said control signals in response to said control instructions to communicate said selected units of television programming to said receiver station.

44. The television transmission station apparatus of claim 43, wherein said control instructions comprise:

(I) control instructions for controlling the operation of said first controller and said second controller and (2) programming unit identification information identifying said selected units of television programming.

45. The television transmission station apparatus of claim 43, wherein said first controller identifies said plurality of units of television programming based upon information in said control instructions, said first controller being programmed with the pattern of signal composition or of signal timing for the units of information to enable said decoder to detect said control instructions and said first controller to identify said selected units of television programming and said control instructions.

46. The television transmission station apparatus of claim 43, wherein said control instructions include digital data and are embedded in said television programming.

47. A television transmission station apparatus for storing and transmitting television programming, said apparatus comprising:

a storage device that stores and outputs units of information comprising units of television programming and control instructions, wherein said television programming comprises a plurality of units received on different channels and originated from one or more remote television programming sources;

an input device that receives control signals originating from a one or more sources separate from the one or more remote television programming sources and stores the control signals at the television transmission station apparatus prior to said storage device storing said units of information, said control signals designating for each unit of a plurality of selected units of television programming;

a time for transmitting the selected units of television programming to a receiver station; and

an channel for transmitting the selected units of television programming to the receiver station;

a plurality of transmitters operatively connected to said storage device, with each of said plurality of transmitters capable of transmitting said selected units of television programming to said receiver station, said plurality of transmitters capable of transmitting said selected units of television programming on a plurality of different channels;

a decoder operatively connected to said storage device that locates and identifies said control instructions;

a controller operatively connected to said decoder that controls the locating and identifying of said control instructions; and

a computer operatively connected to said controller, said decoder, said plurality of transmitters and said input device, said computer receiving said control instructions and said control signals, said computer determining the identity of said selected units of television programming based upon said control instructions, and said computer controlling said storage device based upon said control instructions and said control signals to output said selected units of television programming to at least one of said plurality of transmitters for transmission to said receiver station at said time and on said channel based on said control signals.

48. The television transmission station apparatus of claim 47 wherein each said control instructions is associated with a unit of television programming, each said control instruction comprising unit identification information that identifies its associated unit of television programming.

49. The television transmission station apparatus of claim 48 further comprising a second storage device connected to said computer and an input device operatively connected to said computer, said input device for inputting said television programming unit identification information, said inputted unit identification information being stored in said second storage device, said decoder identifying said units of television programming that have unit identification information that corresponds to said inputted unit identification information.

50. A method of communicating signals in a network comprised of an origination station that transmits said signals, at least one intermediate station that receives and retransmits said signals, and at least one ultimate receiver station that receives said signals from one or more intermediate stations, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at at least one intermediate station a plurality of signals transmitted from said origination station on different channels from said origination station, with at least one of said received signals being designated for delayed retransmission, said at least one of said received signals including audio and a control instruction;

receiving and storing, prior to receiving said at least one of said received signals designated for delayed retransmission, at said at least one intermediate station control signals, wherein said control signals designate;

a designated time for retransmitting each received signal to said at least one ultimate receiver station; and

a designated order for retransmitting each received signals to said at least one ultimate receiver station;

determining at least one of a designated time and a designated order for retransmitting each received signal based on said control signals;

storing at said intermediate station one or more of said received signals designated for delayed transmission in response to said control instruction and said control signals; and

retransmitting each of said received signals from said intermediate station to an ultimate receiver station at said designated time and in said designated order for display at said ultimate receiver station, said retransmitting to said ultimate receiver station based on an address associated with said ultimate receiver station;

wherein said control instruction comprises (I) control instruction information for controlling the storing of said received signals at said intermediate station and (2) signal identification information.

51. A method of communicating signals from an intermediate transmission station, said intermediate transmission station comprising a plurality of transmitters and a computer for controlling the communication of information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission originating from at least one remote source, said information transmission comprising a plurality of signals received on different channels;

receiving and storing, prior to receiving said information transmission, schedule information, said schedule information originating from one or more sources separate from said at least one remote source and designating for at least one of said plurality of received signals;

an output communication path for communicating or transmitting said received signal to a viewer device, each of said transmitters transmitting over one or more output communication paths; and

a time for communicating said received signal to said viewer device;

storing at least a portion of said information transmission;

comparing at least a portion of said plurality of signals to said received schedule information to automatically select at least one of said plurality of signals;

determining said output communication path designated for said at least one of said plurality of signals based on said step of comparing;

selecting at least one of said plurality of transmitters at said intermediate transmission station, said selected transmitter transmitting over said output communication path designated for said selected at least one of said plurality of signals;

automatically transferring said selected at least one of said plurality of signals to said selected transmitter for transmittal to an ultimate receiver station; and

automatically transmitting said selected at least one of said plurality of signals from said intermediate transmission station to said viewer device at said designated time and over said designated output communication path using said selected transmitter.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said selected at least one of said plurality of signals comprises a unit of electronic or computer data, said unit comprising an identification portion and an information portion, said step of comparing comprises comparing said identification portion to said inputted information.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein said selected at least one of said plurality of signals comprises a unit of television or radio programming and an embedded identification signal, said step of comparing comprises the step of comparing said embedded identification signal of said received unit to said schedule information.

54. A method of communicating signals at a transmission station, said transmission station having a receiver or input device for receiving or inputting programming, at least one storage device for storing received or inputted programming, a transmitter and a computer for controlling said receiving, storing, processing, and transmitting of programming, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, either via said transmission station receiver or said input device, a unit of programming originating from one or more remote sources;

identifying an identification signal contained in said unit of programming, said identification signal identifying said unit of programming;

storing, based on said identified identification signal, at a storage location said received unit of programming with said identification signal, said unit of programming including audio;

prior to receiving said unit of programming, receiving and storing schedule information at said transmission station, said schedule information originating from one or more sources different from a source originating said unit of programming, said schedule information designating for said unit of programming;

(a) a time to transmit said unit of programming to a receiver station; and

(b) a frequency for transmitting said unit of programming to said receiver station;

determining a storage location of said unit of programming based on said identification signal and said schedule information;

transmitting automatically said stored unit of programming to said receiver station at said time and on said frequency-based on said said schedule information.