Signal processing apparatus and methods
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of television signal processing at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of processors and a digital switch, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an information transmission including digital television signals and a message stream;
detecting said message stream in said information transmission;
programming a control processor to control said digital switch on the basis of information included in said message stream;
inputting a plurality of commands received in said message stream to a said control processor;
selecting a plurality of said digital television signals included in said information transmission in response to said commands, said selected plurality of said digital television signals being information segments of said information transmission;
controlling said digital switch to communicate each one of said selected plurality of said digital television signals to a signal processor; and
processing said selected plurality of said digital television signals to communicate video and audio signals to a television monitor.
1 Assignment
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
1120 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of television signal processing at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of processors and a digital switch, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission including digital television signals and a message stream; detecting said message stream in said information transmission; programming a control processor to control said digital switch on the basis of information included in said message stream; inputting a plurality of commands received in said message stream to a said control processor; selecting a plurality of said digital television signals included in said information transmission in response to said commands, said selected plurality of said digital television signals being information segments of said information transmission; controlling said digital switch to communicate each one of said selected plurality of said digital television signals to a signal processor; and processing said selected plurality of said digital television signals to communicate video and audio signals to a television monitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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18. A method of television or video signal processing at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of processors and a digital switch, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission including a message stream and digital television or digital video signals; detecting at least one command in said message stream of said information transmission; programming a first of said plurality of processors to control said digital switch on the basis of information included in said message stream; inputting said at least one command to a said first of said plurality of processors; selecting said digital television or digital video signals in response to said at least one command; controlling said digital switch to communicate said selected digital television or digital video signals to at least a second of said plurality of processors; and processing said digital television or video signals and communicating video and audio signals to a television monitor. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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19. A method for one or more transmitter stations to control television or video signal processing at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of processors and a digital switch, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission, said information transmission including a first message stream; receiving a first control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said information transmission to a transmitter; and transmitting said first message stream in said information transmission including digital television or digital video signals, said first message stream to be received by said receiver station wherein a first of said plurality of processors is programmed to control said digital switch on the basis of information included in said first message stream to communicate said digital television or digital video signals included in said information transmission to a second of said plurality of processors and wherein said digital television or digital video signals are selected and processed to produce video and audio signals to be communicated to a television monitor of said receiver station in response to commands received in said first message stream. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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20. A method for one or more transmitter stations to control television or video signal processing at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of processors and a digital switch, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission including a first message stream; causing a first portion of said information transmission to be communicated to a transmitter at a specific time; and transmitting said information transmission and said first message stream, said information transmission and said first message stream to be received by said receiver station wherein a first of said plurality of processors is programmed to control said digital switch to communicate digital television or digital video signals included in said information transmission to a second of said plurality of processors and wherein said digital television or digital video signals are selected and processed to produce video and audio signals to be communicated to a television monitor of said receiver station in response to at least one command received in said first message stream. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneePersonalized Media Communications, LLC
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Original AssigneePersonalized Media Communications, LLC
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InventorsHarvey, John Christopher, Cuddihy, James William
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Primary Examiner(s)Moore, Jr., Michael J
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Application NumberUS08/460,711Time in Patent Office5,513 DaysField of Search348/24, 348/13, 348/12, 348/9, 348/10, 348/6, 348/7, 348/719, 380/20, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.2US Class Current725/139CPC Class CodesG01R 1/071 containing electro-optic el...G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisementsH04H 20/14 for monitoring programmesH04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneo...H04H 20/30 by a single channelH04H 2201/70 characterised in that recei...H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised ...H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device con...H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of broa...H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. en...H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording ...H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring...H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring...H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of...H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast timeH04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast s...H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for acc...H04K 1/00 Secret communicationH04N 21/00 Selective content distribut...H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapte...View All
