Selection of compressed television signals from single channel allocation based on viewer characteristics

• US 5,231,494 A
• Filed: 10/08/1991
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wachob, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/772,927
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 358/146, 358/86, 358/142, 455/61, 455/72
• US Class Current: 348/385.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4532 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 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17363 at or near the user terminal

Abstract

A plurality of television signals are transmitted and selectively received on a single television channel allocation. Headend apparatus compresses a set of television signals, such as a main program signal and a plurality of different demographically targeted commercials. The plurality of compressed television signals are combined into a combined signal for transmission on a single television channel allocation. A receiver receiving the combined signal identifies characteristics of a television viewer, and selects a particular one of the compressed television signals from the received combined signal depending on the viewer characteristics. The retrieved signal is decompressed for use by a video appliance.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transmitting and selectively receiving a plurality of television signals on a single television channel allocation comprising:

headend apparatus for transmitting television signals including;

means for compressing a set of television signals, at least two of which correspond to different viewer characteristics,

means for combining the plurality of compressed television signals into a combined signal, and

means for transmitting said combined signal on a single television channel allocation; and

receiver apparatus for receiving the combined signal including;

means for identifying characteristics of a television viewer,

selection means responsive to said identifying means for retrieving a particular one of said set of compressed television signals from the received combined signal depending on said viewer characteristics, and

means for decompressing the retrieved signal for use by a video appliance.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said viewer characteristics comprise demographic data pertaining to a viewer.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein:

said set of television signals comprise a television program signal and a plurality of corresponding commercial message signals targeted to different viewer demographic groups; and

said selection means are responsive to a commercial message break portion of said television program signal for selecting and retrieving commercials based on the viewer demographics.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said set of television signals comprise a television program signal and a plurality of corresponding message signals targeted to different viewer groups; and

said selection means are responsive to a message break portion of said television program signal for selecting and retrieving messages based on the viewer characteristics.

5. Television receiver apparatus comprising:

means for tuning to a television channel that carries a plurality of compressed television signals;

means for identifying characteristics of at least one television viewer using said receiver; and

means responsive to said identifying means for retrieving a particular television signal from said plurality of compressed television signals based on the identified characteristics.

6. Television receiver apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further comprising:

means for decompressing television signals retrieved from said television channel for use by a video appliance.

7. Television receiver apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further comprising:

means for retrieving a viewer selected television program from said plurality of compressed television signals;

means responsive to a message break signal carried by said viewer selected program for actuating said retrieving means to retrieve said particular television signal during a message break; and

means for returning to said viewer selected television program at the conclusion of said message break.

8. Headend apparatus for broadcasting a plurality of different messages for receipt by different television viewers depending on identified viewer characteristics comprising:

means for compressing a plurality of television signals including at least one program signal and at least one alternate message signal; and

means for combining the plurality of compressed television signals for transmission within a single television channel allocation;

wherein said, combining means combine said plurality of compressed signals in a predetermined order to enable their retrieval depending upon viewer characteristics associated with said signals.

9. Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

means for inserting a message break flag into said program signal to identify the occurrence of a message break in a television program carried by said program signal.

10. Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:

means for transmitting a plurality of television channel signals, each containing at least one program signal and one alternate message signal in a corresponding single television channel allocation.

11. A method for reproducing different messages in a common television program received by a plurality of different television viewers, comprising the steps of:

providing a single television channel containing a compressed television program signal and a plurality of different compressed message signals;

identifying said different compressed message signals with different viewer characteristics;

detecting the occurrence of a message break in a television program represented by said compressed television program signal; and

selecting one of said compressed message signals for reproduction during said message break at a particular viewer site based on a correspondence between viewer characteristics identified for said site and viewer characteristics identified with the selected signal.