Signal processing apparatus and methods

• US 7,908,638 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• 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:
  US08/477,547
• Time in Patent Office: 5,760 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 386/46, 348/5, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/9, 348/2, 348/3, 348461-468, 348/481, 348/563, 348/564, 725135-140
• US Class Current: 725/140
• 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 method comprising the steps of:

(1) storing first data which are subscriber specific data at said subscriber station;

(2) receiving and detecting at said subscriber station, in an information transmission received from said one or more remote stations, one or more instruct signals;

(3) computing second data at said subscriber station by processing said first data in accordance with said one or more instruct signals;

(4) processing said one or more instruct signals to cause at least a portion of a combined medium presentation to be outputted at an output device at said subscriber station, wherein said outputted portion of combined medium presentation includes (i) at least one of an image and a sound received at said subscriber station from a remote transmitter station and (ii) a portion of said second data;

(5) receiving a subscriber input in response to said outputted portion of a combined medium presentation; and

(6) transferring said portion of second data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations based on said subscriber input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said detected one or more instruct signals include one or more of a software module and a data module, said method further comprising the steps of:

receiving and storing said one or more of a software module and a data module; and

subsequently

presenting a combined or sequential output of mass medium programming and one or more of data generated in accordance with said software module and data included in said data module.

3. The method of claim 2, further having at least one step from the group consisting of:

identifying at least one of said one or more of a software module and a data module in said one or more instruct signals;

initiating communications with at least one of said one or more remote stations in accordance with said one or more of a software module and a data module; and

performing at least some portion of said step of transferring in accordance with said software module if said software module is included in said detected one or more instruct signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein television signal including audio is included in said information transmission, said method further having at least one step from the group consisting of:

detecting said one or more instruct signals in said television signal or in a portion of said information transmission not including said television signal;

detecting in said television signal or in said portion of said information transmission—

not including said television signal a software module or a data module which operates to generate at least some of said combined medium presentation or serves as a basis for selecting video, audio, or text to output in said combined medium presentation;

detecting in said television signal or in said portion of said information transmission not including said television signal a second instruct signal which operates to initiate communications with at least one of said one or more remote stations; and

selecting said television signal from a multichannel broadcast or cablecast information transmission.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second data include at least one datum of said first data.

6. A method of communicating subscriber station information from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations, comprising the steps of:

receiving an information transmission at a transmission station, wherein said transmission station comprises a programmable controller, a switch, a computer, a memory, a receiver and a transmitter;

generating one or more instruct signals at said transmission station, said one or more instruct signals being effective to cause said subscriber station to compute second subscriber specific data by processing first subscriber specific data stored at said subscriber station and transfer said second subscriber specific data to said one or more remote stations based on a subscriber response to a combined medium presentation output at an output device at said subscriber station, said combined medium presentation including (i) at least one of an image and a sound received at said subscriber station from a remote source and (ii) a portion of said second subscriber specific data; and

transmitting said information transmission and said one or more instruct signals from said transmission station to said subscriber station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said information transmission includes a television or multichannel signal including a code portion, said method further comprising the step of embedding at least one of said one or more instruct signals in said code portion.

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

detecting a signal which operates at said transmission station to instruct said switch or computer to effect communication;

controlling said switch or computer to communicate at least one of said one or more instruct signals to said transmitter; and

controlling said switch or computer to communicate said information transmission from at least one of said receiver and said memory to said transmitter.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

detecting a signal which is effective at said transmission station to program said programmable controller to control said switch or computer to communicate a selected signal to said transmitter.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more instruct signals comprise downloadable code targeted to a processor at said subscriber station, said downloadable code when loaded into and executed by said processor causes said processor to process said subscriber response, generate said second subscriber specific data, or communicate said second subscriber specific data to said one or more remote stations.

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

receiving generally applicable information in respect of said combined medium presentation at said transmission station;

processing a first portion of said generally applicable information in order to generate or assemble at least some of said one or more instruct signals at said transmission station; and

transmitting a second portion of said generally applicable information from said transmission station to said subscriber station.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of transmitting mass medium programming from said transmission station to said subscriber station to serve as a basis for outputting said combined medium presentation.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more instruct signals include one or more of a software module and a data module, said method further comprising the steps of:

modifying said one or more of a software module and a data module at said transmission station by incorporating data that serve as a basis for outputting said combined medium presentation at said subscriber station; and

transmitting the modified one or more of a software module and a data module to said subscriber station.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said data modulo the incorporated data includes video or audio.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of incorporating into the modified one or more of a software module and a data module an identifier which enables said subscriber station to initiate communications with at least one of said one or more remote stations associated with said identifier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said identifier is a telephone number and said one or more instruct signals cause said subscriber station to dial said telephone number.

17. A method of communicating subscriber station information from a subscriber station to one or more remote stations including:

receiving one or more information transmissions at said subscriber station, said information transmissions including generally applicable information and a plurality of combining control signals, said generally applicable information including (1) at least one of an image and a sound from a remote source and (2) video to serve as a basis on which to present said at least one of an image and a sound from a remote source, at least said plurality of combining control signals being received from said one or more remote stations;

storing a portion of said generally applicable information and said plurality of combining control signals at said subscriber station;

outputting said video at a video monitor at said subscriber station;

selecting subscriber specific information from said generally applicable information in accordance with at least a first of said plurality of combining control signals;

outputting said selected subscriber specific information, in response to at least a second of said plurality of combining control signals, in a series of times at which information of specific relevance to said subscriber is being output;

inputting at said subscriber station a first subscriber response to a subscriber specific combined medium presentation, said subscriber specific combined medium presentation including (i) said at least one of an image and a sound and (ii) said selected subscriber specific information; and

transferring one or more subscriber specific data from said subscriber station to said one or more remote stations based on said first subscriber response.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of outputting at a speaker audio which explains information included in said subscriber specific combined medium presentation.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of outputting some of said subscriber specific combined medium presentation at said speaker.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising inputting a second subscriber response prior to said first subscriber response and generating said audio-explained information based on said second subscriber response at said subscriber station.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing subscriber data and generating said audio-explained information by processing said subscriber data at said subscriber station.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said video includes some of a television program, said method further comprising the step of synchronizing the delivery of the balance of said television program at said subscriber station based on said plurality of combining control signals.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein said subscriber station includes a video RAM operatively connected to said video monitor, said method further comprising the step of clearing said video RAM in response to a third of said plurality of combining control signals.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said subscriber station includes a programmable controller which controls one or more of a code portion receiver, a control signal detector, a computer adapted to generate a video overlay, said method further comprising the steps of:

detecting a control program in one of said one or more information transmissions; and

programming said programmable controller.