Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 8,869,228 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• 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): Hung, Yubin
• Application Number:
  US08/459,218
• Time in Patent Office: 7,081 Days
• Field of Search: 348/381, 348/456, 348461-468, 348/564, 725135-140
• 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 communicating subscriber station information from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, said one or more remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

storing first data which are subscriber specific data at said subscriber station;

selecting a subscriber specific datum by processing said first data at said subscriber station;

producing an image at said subscriber station based on said step of selecting said subscriber specific datum;

outputting a combined medium output of said produced image in conjunction with mass medium programming at said subscriber station, said mass medium programming providing meaning relating to said produced image;

receiving subscriber input based on said combined medium output at said subscriber station, said subscriber input for controlling a computer processor at said subscriber station;

executing one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station to cause selection of second data at said subscriber station by processing at least one of said first data and said subscriber input, said step of executing caused by said subscriber input; and

transmitting a portion of said second data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations, said transmitting based on said step of executing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving and storing computer software at said subscriber station.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

initiating communications with said one or more remote stations in accordance with said computer software.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

performing said step of transmitting in accordance with said computer software.

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

identifying said one or more instruct signals.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at said subscriber station, an information transmission including audio; and

outputting said audio as part of said combined medium output.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said one or more instruct signals in said television signal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting in said television signal one or more of a computer software and data which operates to generate one or more portions of said combined medium output.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said subscriber input includes one or more subscriber specific data, said method further comprising the steps of:

storing said one or more subscriber specific data, upon receiving said one or more subscriber specific data included in said subscriber input, as part of said first data; and

processing said one or more subscriber specific data, thereafter, as part of said first data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said one or more instruct signals, at said subscriber station, in an information transmission transmitted from a remote transmitter station;

detecting said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station; and

passing said one or more instruct signals to said computer processor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more instruct signal, following said step of executing said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station, cause said subscriber station to perform said step of transmitting.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more remote stations include a particular remote station and said one or more instruct signals cause said subscriber station to transmit at least one of said second data to said particular remote station.

13. A method of enabling subscriber station information to be communicated from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, said one or more remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said subscriber station storing first data, said first data including a subscriber specific datum, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission at a transmitter station, said information transmission including mass medium programming for inclusion in a combined medium output at said subscriber station, said combined medium output at said subscriber station including an image produced at said subscriber station based on said subscriber specific datum, said image presented in said combined medium output in conjunction with said mass medium programming at said subscriber station, said mass medium programming providing meaning relating to said image;

communicating said information transmission including said mass medium programming to transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station;

communicating one or more instruct signals to said transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station, said one or more instruct signals being effective to cause said subscriber station to process subscriber input received at said subscriber station based on said combined medium output, cause computer apparatus at said subscriber station to select a second datum by processing at least one of said first data, and transfer said selected second datum from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations based on said subscriber input;

transmitting said information transmission including said mass medium programming from said transmitter station to said subscriber station; and

transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of embedding said one or more instruct signals in said information transmission including said mass medium programming before transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said transmitter station is caused to transmit said one or more instruct signal according to a schedule, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said mass medium programming according to said schedule.

16. A method of communicating subscriber station information from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, said one or more remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

storing first data which are subscriber specific data at said subscriber station;

receiving and detecting at said subscriber station, in an information transmission received from a transmission station, one or more instruct signals;

selecting a subscriber specific datum by processing said first data at said subscriber station in response to said one or more instruct signals;

selecting digital information that produces a sound, said step of selecting digital information based on said step of selecting a subscriber specific datum;

outputting a combined medium presentation of said sound in conjunction with mass medium programming at output apparatus at said subscriber station, said mass medium programming providing meaning relating to said sound;

receiving a subscriber input for controlling a computer processor at said subscriber station in response to said outputted combined medium presentation;

computing second data at said subscriber station by processing at least one of

     1) said first data and

     2) said subscriber input, said step of computing based on said subscriber input; and

transmitting a portion of said second data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations, said transmitting is in consequence to said subscriber input.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving and storing computer software at said subscriber station.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

initiating communications with said one or more remote stations in accordance with said computer software.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

performing said step of transmitting in accordance with said computer software.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of identifying said one or more instruct signals.

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

receiving at said subscriber station, an information transmission including audio; and

outputting said audio as part of said combined medium output.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said one or more instruct signals in said television signal.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting in said television signal one or more of a computer software and data which operates to at least one of generate one or more portions of said combined medium output and serve as a basis for selecting audio to output in said combined medium output.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said subscriber input includes one or more subscriber specific data, said method further comprising the steps of:

storing said one or more subscriber specific data, upon receiving said one or more subscriber specific data included in said subscriber input, as part of said first data; and

processing said one or more subscriber specific data, thereafter, as part of said first data.

25. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

receiving said one or more instruct signals, at said subscriber station, in an information transmission transmitted from a remote transmitter station;

detecting said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station; and

passing said one or more instruct signals to said computer processor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said one or more instruct signal, following said step of executing said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station, cause said subscriber station to perform said step of transmitting.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said one or more remote stations include a particular remote station and said one or more instruct signals cause said subscriber station to transmit at least one of said second data to said particular remote station.

28. A method of enabling subscriber station information to be communicated from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, said one or more remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said subscriber station storing first data which are subscriber specific data, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a transmitter station an information transmission, said information transmission including mass medium programming for inclusion in a combined medium presentation at said subscriber station, said combined medium presentation including a sound produced by digital information, said sound produced in said combined medium presentation in conjunction with said mass medium programming at output apparatus at said subscriber station, said mass medium programming providing meaning relating to said sound;

communicating said information transmission including said mass medium programming to transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station;

communicating one or more instruct signals to said transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station, said one or more instruct signals being effective at said subscriber station to cause processor apparatus at said subscriber station to select said digital information that produces said sound by processing said first data;

transmitting said information transmission including said mass medium programming from said transmitter station to said subscriber station, whereby said subscriber station is enabled to output said combined medium presentation and receive a subscriber input at said subscriber station in response to said outputted combined medium presentation; and

transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station, whereby said subscriber station is enabled to control a processor at said subscriber station based on said subscriber input, select second data at said subscriber station by processing said first data based on said subscriber input, and transmit a portion of said second data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of embedding said one or more instruct signals in said information transmission including said mass medium programming before transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said transmitter station is caused to transmit said one or more instruct signal according to a schedule, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said mass medium programming according to said schedule.

31. A method of communicating subscriber station information from a subscriber station to a specific remote station, said specific remote station being one of a plurality of remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

storing first data which are subscriber specific data at said subscriber station;

receiving mass medium programming at said subscriber station;

outputting said mass medium programming at said subscriber station;

selecting a subscriber specific datum by processing said first data at said subscriber station;

outputting a combined medium output of said subscriber specific datum in conjunction with said mass medium programming at said subscriber station, said subscriber specific datum providing a subscriber specific meaning relating to said mass medium programming;

receiving a subscriber input based on said combined medium output at said subscriber station;

executing one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station to cause computation of second data at said subscriber station by processing said first data based on said subscriber input;

selecting said specific remote station; and

transmitting a portion of said second data from said subscriber station to said selected specific remote station.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of receiving and storing computer software at said subscriber station.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

initiating communications with said one or more remote stations in accordance with said computer software.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of:

performing said step of transmitting in accordance with said computer software.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

identifying said one or more instruct signals.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at said subscriber station, an information transmission including audio; and

outputting said audio as part of said combined medium output.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said one or more instruct signals in said television signal.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting in said television signal one or more of a computer software and data which operates to generate one or more portions of said combined medium output.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein said subscriber input includes one or more subscriber specific data, said method further comprising the steps of:

storing said one or more subscriber specific data, upon receiving said one or more subscriber specific data included in said subscriber input, as part of said first data; and

processing said one or more subscriber specific data, thereafter, as part of said first data.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said one or more instruct signals, at said subscriber station, in an information transmission transmitted from a remote transmitter station;

detecting said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station; and

passing said one or more instruct signals to said computer processor.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said one or more instruct signal, following said step of executing said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station, cause said subscriber station to perform said step of transmitting.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said one or more remote stations include a particular remote station and said one or more instruct signals cause said subscriber station to transmit at least one of said second data to said particular remote station.

43. A method of enabling subscriber station information to be communicated from a subscriber station to a specific remote station, said specific remote station being one of a plurality of remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said subscriber station storing first data which are subscriber specific data, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission at a transmitter station, said information transmission including mass medium programming for inclusion in a combined medium output at said subscriber station, said combined medium output to include a subscriber specific datum in conjunction with said mass medium programming, said subscriber specific datum providing a subscriber specific meaning relating to said mass medium programming;

communicating said information transmission including said mass medium programming to transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station;

communicating one or more instruct signals to transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station, said one or more instruct signals being effective at said subscriber station to cause computational apparatus at said subscriber station to compute second data by processing said first data based on a subscriber input, and select said specific remote station;

transmitting said information transmission including said mass medium programming from said transmitter station to said subscriber station; and

transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station, whereby said subscriber station is enabled to output said combined medium output, receive said subscriber input based on said combined medium output, cause computation of second data at said subscriber station by processing said first data based on said subscriber input, and transmit a portion of said second data from said subscriber station to said specific remote station.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of embedding said one or more instruct signals in said information transmission including said mass medium programming before transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said transmitter station is caused to transmit said one or more instruct signal according to a schedule, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said mass medium programming according to said schedule.

46. A method of communicating subscriber station information from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, said one or more remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said method comprising the steps of:

programming said subscriber station to respond to one or more instruct signals;

storing first data which are subscriber specific data at said subscriber station;

receiving and detecting at said subscriber station, in an information transmission received from a transmission station, said one or more instruct signals;

receiving mass medium programming at said subscriber station;

outputting said mass medium programming at said subscriber station;

selecting a subscriber specific datum by processing said first data at said subscriber station;

outputting a combined medium presentation of said subscriber specific datum in conjunction with said mass medium programming at an output device at said subscriber station, said subscriber specific datum providing a subscriber specific meaning relating to said mass medium programming;

receiving a subscriber input in response to said outputted combined medium presentation;

processing said one or more instruct signals to cause second data to be computed at said subscriber station by processing said first data in accordance with said subscriber input; and

transmitting a portion of said second data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of receiving and storing computer software at said subscriber station.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of:

initiating communications with said one or more remote stations in accordance with said computer software.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of:

performing said step of transmitting in accordance with said computer software.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of identifying said one or more instruct signals.

51. The method of claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at said subscriber station, an information transmission including audio; and

outputting said audio as part of said combined medium output.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting said one or more instruct signals in said television signal.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein said audio is part of a television signal, said method further comprising the step of:

detecting in said television signal one or more of a computer software and data which operates to at least one of generate one or more portions of said combined medium output and serve as a basis for selecting audio to output in said combined medium output.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein said subscriber input includes one or more subscriber specific data, said method further comprising the steps of:

storing said one or more subscriber specific data, upon receiving said one or more subscriber specific data included in said subscriber input, as part of said first data; and

processing said one or more subscriber specific data, thereafter, as part of said first data.

55. The method of claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said one or more instruct signals, at said subscriber station, in an information transmission transmitted from a remote transmitter station;

detecting said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station; and

passing said one or more instruct signals to said computer processor.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said one or more instruct signal, following said step of executing said one or more instruct signals at said subscriber station, cause said subscriber station to perform said step of transmitting.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said one or more remote stations include a particular remote station and said one or more instruct signals cause said subscriber station to transmit at least one of said second data to said particular remote station.

58. A method of enabling subscriber station information to be communicated from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, said one or more remote stations located at a site or sites separate from said subscriber station, said subscriber station programmed to respond to one or more instruct signals and storing first data, at least one of said first data being a subscriber specific datum, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a transmitter station an information transmission, said information transmission including mass medium programming for inclusion, at said subscriber station, in combined medium output in conjunction with said subscriber specific datum, said subscriber specific datum providing a subscriber specific meaning relating to said mass medium programming;

communicating said information transmission including said mass medium programming to transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station;

communicating said one or more instruct signals to said transmitter apparatus at said transmitter station, said one or more instruct signals being effective, at said subscriber station, to cause second data to be computed at said subscriber station by processing said first data in accordance with subscriber input received at said subscriber station in response to said combined medium output and to cause a portion of said second data to be transmitted from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations;

transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station, whereby said subscriber station is enabled to respond to said one or more instruct signals; and

transmitting said information transmission including said mass medium programming from said transmitter station to said subscriber station;

whereby said subscriber station is enabled to output said combined medium output, receive said subscriber input in response to said outputted combined medium output, and transmit a portion of said first data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising the step of embedding said one or more instruct signals in said information transmission including said mass medium programming before transmitting said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said subscriber station.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said transmitter station is caused to transmit said one or more instruct signal according to a schedule, said method further comprising the step of transmitting said mass medium programming according to said schedule.