Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 4,694,490 A
• Filed: 11/03/1981
• Issued: 09/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Personalized Mass Media Corporation
• Original Assignee: National Cable Clearing House, Inc.
• Inventors: Harvey, John C., Cuddihy, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US06/317,510
• Time in Patent Office: 2,142 Days
• Field of Search: 455/4, 455/26, 455/30, 455/32-34, 455/37, 455/70, 358/147, 358/142, 358/146, 358/143, 358/183, 358/86, 358/122, 364/521
• US Class Current: 380/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• 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 21/23892 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 21/2541 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 21/4117 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 21/426 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 21/4353 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 21/4385 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 21/4532 : 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 21/4622 : 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 21/488 : Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• 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 21/8352 : 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 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

Apparatus and methods for automatically controlling programming transmissions and presentations on television and radio equipment and monitoring the programming transmitted and presented. ("Programming" here means everything transmitted over television or radio intended for communication of entertainment or to instruct or inform.) The Apparatus can handle programming transmitted either over-the-air (hereinafter, "broadcast") or over hard-wire (hereinafter, "cablecast"). The apparatus receive transmissions from as many as one hundred or more channels that are sequentially scanned by one or more scanners/switches that transfer the transmissions to one or more receiver/decoders that identify signals in the programming and separate the signals from the programming transmissions. The signals may then be transferred through one or more decrypters. The separated and possibly wholly or partially decrypted signals are then transferred through one or more processors and buffers to external equipment and/or data recorders. The data recorders are adapted to output data to remote sites on predetermined instructions. In all these functions, the apparatus are governed by one or more controllers. The methods co-ordinate and instruct equipment in the transmission and presentation of radio and television programming, especially in multi-media and multi-channel presentations, and in certain other functions.

Claims

1. A method of communicating television program material to a multiplicity of receiver stations each of which includes a television receiver and computer, the computers being adapted to generate and transmit overlay signals to their associated television receivers, said overlay signals causing the display of user specific information related to said program material, and with at least some of said computers being programmed to process overlay modification control signals so as to modify the overlay signals transmitted to their associated receivers, each of said computers being programmed to accommodate a specific user application, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a video signal containing a television program signal to said receivers,

transmitting an instruct-to-overlay signal to said receiver stations at a time when the corresponding overlay is not being displayed,

receiving said video signal at a plurality of receiver stations and displaying said program material on the video receivers of selected ones of said plurality of receiver stations,

detecting the presence of said instruct-to-overlay signal at said selected receiver stations and coupling said instruct-to-overlay signal to the computers associated with the video receivers of said selected stations, and

causing said last named computers to generate and transmit their overlay signals to their associated television receivers in response to said instruct-to-overlay signal, thereby to present a display at the selected receiver stations including the television program material and the related computer generated overlay, the overlays displayed at a multiplicity of said receiver stations being different, with each display specific to a specific user.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including the step of transmitting an overlay modification signal to the computers which are programmed to process overlay modification signals, and causing said last named computers to modify their respective overlay signals in response thereto.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said instruct-to-overlay signal is embedded in said video signal outside the range of the television picture.

4. In a method of communicating television program material to a multiplicity of receiver stations each of which includes a television receiver and computer, the computers being adapted to generate and transmit overlay video signals to their associated television receivers, said overlay signals causing the display of user specific information related to said program material, and with at least some of said computers being programmed to process overlay control sigmals transmitted to their associated receivers, each of said computers being programmed to accommodate a unique user application, the steps of

transmitting a video signal containing a television program signal to said receiver stations, and

transmitting an instruct-to-overlay signal at a time when the corresponding overlay is not being displayed to thereby cause selected ones of said computers to generate and transmit their overlay sigmals to their associated television receiver to present a combined display consisting of the television program and the related computer generated overlay, the overlays displayed at a multiplicity of said receiver stations being different, with each display unique to a specific user.

5. A process according to claim 4, further including the step of transmitting an overlay modification signal to the computers which are programmed to process overlay modification signals.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said instruct-to-overlay signal is embedded in said video signal outside the range of the television picture.

7. In a method of communicating television program material to a multiplicity of receiver stations each of which includes a television receiver and computer, the computers being adapted to generate and transmit overlay video signals, to their associated television receivers, said overlay signals causing the display of user specific information related to said program material, and with at least some of said computers being programmed to process overlay modification control signals so as to modify the overlay video signals transmitted to their associated receivers, each of said computers being programmed to accommodate a specific user application, and wherein a video signal containing a television program signal and an instruct to-overlay signal are transmitted to said receiver stations, the steps of

receiving said video signal at a plurality of receiver stations and displaying said program material on the video receivers of selected ones of said plurality of receiver stations,

detecting the presence of said instruct-to-overlay signal at said selected receiver stations at a time when the corresponding overlay is not being displayed, and coupling said instruct-to-overlay signal to the computers at said selected receiver stations, and

causing the computers at said selected receiver stations to generate and transmit their overlay video signals to their associated television receivers in response to said instruct-to-overlay signal, thereby to present a combined display at the selected receiver stations consisting of the television program and the related computer generated overlay, the overlays displayed at a multiplicity of said receiver stations being different, with each display specific to a specific user.

8. A method according to claim 7, further including the step of transmitting an overlay modification signal to the computers which are programmed to process overlay modification signals, and causing said last named computers to modify their respective overlay video signals in response thereto.

9. Television signal processor means, comprising carrier transmission receiving means, means for demodulating the output of said receiving means to detect a video program signal, means normally coupling said video signal to a television receiver, decoder means for determining the presence or absence of an embedded instruct-to-overlay signal in said video signal at a time when the corresponding overlay is not being displayed, computer means for generating and transmitting video overlay signals, said overlay signals causing the display of user specific information related to said program material, and means connected to said computer means and responsive to said decoder means when the presence of said embedded signal is detected for coupling said overlay signals to said television receiver, the overlays displayed at a multiplicity of said receiver stations being different, with each display specific to a specific user.

10. Television signal processor means according to claim 9, wherein said means connected to said computer means and responsive to said decoder means disconnects said video program signal from said television receiver upon detection of the absence of said embedded signal.

11. Television signal processor means according to claim 9, further including means coupled to said computer means for selectively updating said overlay signals.

12. Television signal processor means according to claim 11, wherein said embedded signal is a periodically recurring signal and wherein said means connected to said computer means and responsive to said decoder means couples said overlay video signals to said television receiver for so long as said embedded signal appears in said video program signal.

13. Television signal processor means according to claim 9, wherein said overlay video signal represents a graphic overlay.