Signal processing apparatus and methods
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling the communication of signals at a receiver station, said receiver station comprising (i) a valve for receiving and controlling the communication of signals and (ii) at least one processor that processes said signals, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission that includes an information transmission that includes embedded signals;
demodulating said one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission to detect said information transmission therein;
detecting said embedded signals in said information transmission;
communicating said embedded signals to said valve;
detecting, at said valve, valve control signals that are embedded in said embedded signals; and
controlling said valve, in response to said valve control signals, so that said valve performs at least one of the functions of ceasing to communicate and commencing to communicate said embedded signals to said at least one processor.
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. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
962 Citations
112 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the communication of signals at a receiver station, said receiver station comprising (i) a valve for receiving and controlling the communication of signals and (ii) at least one processor that processes said signals, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission that includes an information transmission that includes embedded signals; demodulating said one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission to detect said information transmission therein; detecting said embedded signals in said information transmission; communicating said embedded signals to said valve; detecting, at said valve, valve control signals that are embedded in said embedded signals; and controlling said valve, in response to said valve control signals, so that said valve performs at least one of the functions of ceasing to communicate and commencing to communicate said embedded signals to said at least one processor.
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2. A method of communicating at least one valve control signal to a plurality of receiver stations, each receiver station of said plurality of receiver stations having (i) a valve for receiving and controlling the communication of information signals and (ii) at least one processor that processes said information signals, said at least one valve control signal controlling said valve so that said valve performs at least one of the functions of ceasing to communicate said information signals and commencing to communicate said information signals to said at least one processor, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission that includes said at least one valve control signal; receiving a second control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said at least one valve control signal to a transmitter; and transmitting said information transmission and said at least one valve control signal in one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission to cause said valve to perform at least one of the functions of ceasing to communicate and commencing to communicate said information signals to said at least one processor.
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3. A method of communicating at least one valve control signal to a plurality of receiver stations, each receiver station having (i) a valve for receiving and controlling the communication of information signals and (ii) at least one processor that processes said information signals, said at least one valve control signal controlling said valve so that said valve performs at least one of the functions of ceasing to communicate said signals and commencing to communicate said information signals to said at least one processor, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving at least one information transmission to be transmitted; delivering said at least one information transmission to a transmitter; receiving said at least one valve control signal; storing said at least one valve control signal; communicating said at least one valve control signal to said transmitter at a specific time; and transmitting said at least one information transmission and said at least one valve control signal in one of a broadcast transmission and a cablecast transmission to cause said valve to perform at least one of the functions of ceasing to communicate and commencing to communicate said information signals to said at least one processor.
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4. A method of controlling a television display at a receiver station, said receiver station having a television monitor for displaying television programming and at least one processor for generating at least one of a video and audio signal in response to data detected in a television signal, said at least one processor being capable of responding to a processor interrupt signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving said television signal at said receiver station; demodulating said television signal at said receiver station to detect an information transmission; detecting said data on said information transmission; generating a processor interrupt signal in response to said data; communicating said processor interrupt signal to said at least one processor; and causing said at least one processor, in response to said processor interrupt signal, to perform at least one of;
(a) generating at least one of a video and audio signal at a specific time according to a schedule, and (b) outputting said at least one of a video and audio signal at a specific time according to said schedule to said television monitor.
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5. A method of controlling a television display at a receiver station, said receiver station having a television monitor for displaying television programming, and at least one processor for generating information content of television programming and outputting said information content to said television monitor, said at least one processor being capable of altering its manner of generating and outputting said information content in response to a processor interrupt signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission at said receiver station; demodulating one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission to detect said information transmission; detecting said data on said information transmission; generating said processor interrupt signal based on said data; and interrupting said at least one processor in response to said processor interrupt signal, thereby causing said at least one processor to alter its manner of performing at least one of;
(a) generating said information content according to a schedule, and (b) outputting said information content according to said schedule to said television monitor.
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6. A method of controlling a video display at a receiver station, said receiver station having a video monitor for displaying video and at least one processor for generating a video signal in response to data detected in one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission, said at least one processor being capable of responding to a processor interrupt signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission at said receiver station; demodulating said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission at said receiver station to detect an information transmission; detecting said embedded data on said information transmission; generating a processor interrupt signal in response to said data; communicating said processor interrupt signal to said at least one processor; and causing said at least one processor, in response to said processor interrupt signal, to perform at least one of;
(a) generate a video signal at a specific time according to a schedule, and (b) output said video signal at a specific time according to said schedule to said television monitor.
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7. A method of controlling a television display at at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of which has a television monitor for displaying television programming and at least one processor for generating video and audio signals in response to data detected in one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission, and said at least one processor being capable of responding to a processor interrupt signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission to be transmitted; receiving said data which;
(i) enable said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to generate a processor interrupt signal, and (ii) cause said at least one processor to generate at least one of a video and audio signal;receiving a control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said data to a transmitter; and transmitting said information transmission, and said data in said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission.
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8. A method of controlling a television display at at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of which has a television monitor for displaying television programming and at least one processor for generating video and audio signals in response to data detected in one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission, said at least one processor being capable of responding to a processor interrupt signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission to be transmitted and delivering said information transmission to a transmitter; receiving and storing said data which;
(i) enable said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to generate a processor interrupt signal, and (ii) cause said at least one processor to generate at least one of a video and audio signal; andcausing said data to be communicated to said transmitter at a specific time thereby to transmit said information transmission and said data in said one of a broadcast and cablecast transmission.
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9. A method of controlling a receiver station in a mass medium programming presentation system, said receiver station having a first processor and a second processor, wherein said first processor and said second processor are capable of receiving input from a plurality of sources, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a transmission signal at said receiver station; demodulating said transmission signal to detect said information transmission thereon, said information transmission comprising embedded data; detecting said embedded data on said information transmission; passing said embedded data to said first processor; and selecting, by said first processor, a specific input source from said plurality of sources based on said embedded data, said embedded data causing at least one of said first processor and said second processor to commence waiting to receive said input from said specific input source. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of communicating digital data, in a mass medium programming presentation system, to a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a processor capable of receiving input from a plurality of sources, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a transmission signal to be transmitted; receiving said digital data which operates, at at least one of said plurality of receiver stations, to cause said processor to commence waiting to receive said input from an identified input source; receiving a control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said digital data to a transmitter; and transmitting said transmission signal comprising said digital data to effect said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to process said digital data to cause said processor to identify said identified source from said plurality of sources based on at least a portion of the received data and to commence waiting to receive said input from said identified input source. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of communicating digital data, in a mass medium programming presentation system, to a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a processor capable of receiving input from a plurality of sources, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a transmission signal to be transmitted and delivering said transmission signal to a transmitter; receiving and storing said digital data which at least one of said plurality of said receiver stations operates to cause said processor to commence waiting to receive said input from an identified input source; and causing said digital data to be communicated to said transmitter at a specific time, said transmission signal comprising said digital data to effect said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to process said digital data to cause said processor to identify said identified source from said plurality of sources based on at least a portion of the received data and to commence waiting to receive said input from said identified input source. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method of processing signals at a receiver station, said receiver station comprising a plurality of programmable processors each for at least one of generating and controlling the passing of some information associated with at least one of a video display and an audio output, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving one of a broadcast and a cablecast transmission at said receiver station; demodulating said one of a broadcast and a cablecast transmission to detect an information transmission thereon, said information transmission comprising data; detecting said data on said information transmission; communicating said detected data to said plurality of programmable processors; selecting at least one of said plurality of programmable processors; communicating an interrupt signal to said selected at least one of said plurality of programmable processors on the basis of said selecting; and causing said selected at least one of said plurality of programmable processors to at least one of generate and control the passing of at least some portion of at least one of a video and an audio signal at a specific time. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of communicating a first control signal to at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each having a plurality of programmable processors each for at least one of generating and controlling the passing of some information associated with at least one of a video display and an audio output, with at least some of said programmable processors capable of responding to said first control signal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving data to be transmitted; receiving said first control signal which at at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations operates to cause a selected programmable processor to at least one of generate and control the passing of a first portion of at least one of a video and an audio signal; receiving a second control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate at least one of said data and said first control signal to a transmitter to be transmitted according to a received schedule; and transmitting one of a broadcast and a cablecast transmission comprising said data and said first control signal to cause said selected programmable processor to at least one of generate and control the passing of some portion of said at least one of a video and an audio signal at a specific time. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method of communicating a control signal to at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each having a plurality of programmable processors each for at least one of video display and an audio output, with at least some of said programmable processors capable of responding to said control signal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal to be transmitted, said signal comprising data to be transmitted, and delivering said signal to a transmitter; receiving and storing said control signal which at at least one of said plurality of receiver stations operates to cause a selected programmable processor to at least one of generate and control the passing of some portion of at least one of a video and an audio signal at a first specific time; and causing said control signal to be communicated to the transmitter at a second specific time based on a received second control signal describing a schedule. - View Dependent Claims (44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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45. A method of communicating a control signal to at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each having a plurality of programmable processors each for at least one of video display and an audio output, with at least some of said programmable processors capable of responding to said control signal, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal to be transmitted, said signal comprising data to be transmitted, and delivering said signal to a transmitter; receiving and storing said control signal which at at least one of said plurality of receiver stations operates to cause a selected programmable processor to at least one of generate and control the passing of some portion of at least one of a video and an audio signal at a first specific time; and causing said control signal to be communicated to the transmitter at a second specific time; wherein said control signal operates at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to communicate an interrupt signal to said selected programmable processor and cause said selected programmable processor to cease performing a processing task in response to said interrupt signal.
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51. A method of controlling at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a processor capable of processing data in response to one or more types of control signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a transmitter station, a broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted and delivering said broadcast or cablecast transmission to a transmitter; receiving and storing a first signal distinguishing control instruction which at said at least one receiver station operates to enable said receiver station to process a first control signal as being of a specific signal type; and causing said first signal distinguishing control instruction to be communicated to the transmitter at a specific time according to a received schedule, thereby to transmit said broadcast or cablecast transmission and said first signal distinguishing control instruction. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 99)
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60. A method of controlling at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a processor capable of processing data in response to one or more types of control signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a transmitter station, a broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted and delivering said broadcast or cablecast transmission to a transmitter; receiving and storing a first signal distinguishing control instruction which at said at least one receiver station operates to enable said receiver station to process a first control signal as being of a specific signal type; causing said first signal distinguishing control instruction to be communicated to the transmitter at a specific time, thereby to transmit said broadcast or cablecast transmission and said first signal distinguishing control instruction; generating a first message including first cadence information, an execution segment, and an information segment, said information segment including a first part of a program; generating one or more second messages, each of said second messages including second cadence information and some other part of said program; embedding said first message into one or more information transmissions; subsequently embedding said one or more second messages into said one or more information transmissions to thereby compose a message stream; and transmitting said message stream. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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63. A method of controlling at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a processor capable of processing data in response to one or more types of control signals and a memory operatively connected to said processor, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a transmitter station, a broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted and delivering said broadcast or cablecast transmission to a transmitter; receiving and storing a first signal distinguishing control instruction which at said at least one receiver station operates to enable said receiver station to process a first control signal as being of a specific signal type; causing said first signal distinguishing control instruction to be communicated to the transmitter at a specific time, thereby to transmit said broadcast or cablecast transmission and said first signal distinguishing control instruction; generating a first message including multiple elements of at least fixed length, said first message including an information segment including at least some of a program and a execution instruction which operates at said receiver station to store said at least some of a program; generating a second message including multiple elements of at least fixed length, said multiple elements comprising an execution instruction which operates at said receiver station to output content of said memory; firstly embedding said first message into an information transmission; subsequently embedding said second message into said information transmission; and transmitting said information transmission.
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64. A method of controlling at least one of a plurality of receiver stations each of which includes a plurality of processors capable of processing data in response to one or more types of control signals, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a transmitter station, a broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted and delivering said broadcast or cablecast transmission to a transmitter; receiving and storing a first signal distinguishing control instruction which at said at least one receiver station operates to enable said receiver station to process a first control signal as being of a specific signal type, said first signal distinguishing control instruction designates one of a digital signal and an analog signal; causing said first signal distinguishing control instruction to be communicated to the transmitter at a specific time, thereby to transmit said broadcast or cablecast transmission and said first signal distinguishing control instruction; selecting code to be directed to said plurality of processors; generating one or more first elements or fields to identify the structure of a message; generating one or more second elements or fields to identify one or more processor instructions or data formats in said message; organizing said selected code in a sequence with a plurality of message components, said sequence including said generated first and second elements or fields, said selected code organized in said sequence with said plurality of message components and said generated first and second elements or fields comprising said message; and embedding said organized sequence into an information transmission, said information transmission including one or more of (1) a message stream, (2) video, and (3) audio; and transmitting said information transmission. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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73. A method of communicating one or more control signals to one or more receiver stations each of which includes a processor for storing and processing digital data included in at least one broadcast or cablecast transmission, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted, said broadcast or cablecast transmission including said digital data; receiving a first control signal which at said one or more receiver stations operates to designate a second broadcast or cablecast transmission; receiving a second control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said first control signal to a first transmitter according to a received schedule; and transmitting said first broadcast or cablecast transmission, said digital data, and said first control signal, wherein said first control signal is operative at said one or more receiver stations to cause said processor to cease storing said digital data. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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79. A method of communicating one or more control signals to one or more receiver stations each of which includes a processor for storing and processing digital data included in at least one broadcast or cablecast transmission, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted, said broadcast or cablecast transmission including said digital data; receiving a first control signal which at said one or more receiver stations operates to designate a second broadcast or cablecast transmission; receiving a second control signal which operates at a transmitter station to communicate said first control signal to a first transmitter; transmitting said first broadcast or cablecast transmission, said digital data, and said first control signal, wherein said first control signal is operative at said one or more receiver stations to cause said processor to cease storing said digital data; transmitting operating instructions which program (1) said one or more receiver stations to execute said controlled functions in response to one or more receiver station execution instructions included in said second broadcast or cablecast transmission and (2) said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations to process at least one message in a message stream; causing a selective communications device to communicate output to said transmitter in response to said second control signal, said selective communications device is connected to a receiver at said transmitter station and comprises a memory which stores said one or more execution instructions in at least some of said message stream; detecting one or more transmitter station execution instructions in said message stream; and programming at least one processor at said transmitter station to respond to said one or more transmitter station execution instructions. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81)
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89. A method of communicating one or more control signals to one or more receiver stations each of which includes a processor for storing and processing digital data included in at least one broadcast or cablecast transmission, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first broadcast or cablecast transmission to be transmitted and delivering said first broadcast or cablecast transmission to one or more transmitters, said first broadcast or cablecast transmission including said digital data; receiving and storing a first control signal which at said one or more receiver stations operates to designate a second broadcast or cablecast transmission; and causing said first control signal to be communicated to a first of said one or more transmitters at a specific time according to a received schedule, thereby to transmit said first broadcast or cablecast transmission, said digital data, and said first control signal, wherein said first control signal is operative at said one or more receiver stations to cause said processor to cease storing said digital data. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
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100. A method of processing signals in a television receiver, said television receiver having a plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a television signal; detecting a stream of digital data in said television signal; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; processing said passed first portion of said stream of digital data and outputting processed information from said plurality of programmable processors; and passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor to cause programming of at least one processor of said plurality of programmable processors to process said passed first portion of said stream of digital data; controlling, with said programmable control processor, the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion or the outputting of second processed information from said plurality of programmable processors in response to said passed control portion; and outputting viewable or audible information to a subscriber based on said step of controlling.
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101. A method of processing signals in a television receiver, the television receiver having a plurality of programmable processors and a programmable control processor, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a television signal; detecting a stream of digital data in said television signal; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; processing said passed first portion of said stream of digital data and outputting processing information from said plurality of programmable processors; passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor, said programmable control processor programming at least one processor of said plurality of programmable processors to process said passed first portion of said stream of digital data; controlling the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion and the outputting of second processed information from at least one of said plurality of programmable processors in response to said passed control portion; and outputting viewable or audible information to a subscriber based on said step of controlling.
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102. A method of processing signals in a video receiver, said video receiver having a plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a video signal; detecting a stream of digital data in said video signal; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor; controlling, with said programmable control processor, the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital video data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion in response to said passed control portion; processing said passed second portion of said stream of digital data and outputting processed information from said plurality of programmable processors to a video display apparatus; and displaying video at said video display apparatus based on said outputted processed information from said plurality of programmable processors.
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103. A method of processing signals in a receiver of a broadcast or cablecast transmission, said receiver including an image receiver and having a plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a broadcast or cablecast signal; detecting a stream of digital data on said received signal; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; processing said passed first portion of said stream of digital data and outputting processed information from said plurality of programmable processors; passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor, said programmable control processor programming at least one programmable processor of said plurality of programmable processors to process said passed first portion of said stream of digital data; controlling the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion in response to said passed control portion; and processing said passed second portion of said stream of digital data and outputting image information from said plurality of programmable processors to an image display device based on said step of controlling; and displaying said image at said image display device.
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104. A method of processing signals at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of programmable processors for processing a data message and a plurality of buffers with each of said plurality of buffers capable of passing data of said message to at least one of said plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a broadcast or cablecast transmission; demodulating said broadcast or cablecast transmission to detect an information transmission thereon, said information transmission including at least said data message; detecting said data message on said information transmission; passing at least a portion of said data message to each of said plurality of buffers; and causing at least one of said plurality of buffers to receive only some of said data message, thereby to cause said plurality of programmable processors to process said data message selectively; passing a control portion of information transmission to a programmable control processor, said programmable control processor programming at least one programmable processor of said plurality of programmable processors to process said only some of said data message; processing said only some of said data message based on said programming and outputting image information from said plurality of programmable processors to an image display device based on said step of passing.
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105. A method of processing signals at a receiver station, said receiver station having a plurality of programmable processors for processing a stream of digital data messages, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a broadcast or cablecast transmission; demodulating said broadcast or cablecast transmission to detect an information transmission thereon, said information transmission including said stream of digital data messages; detecting a first digital data message of said stream of digital data messages on said information transmission; passing said first digital data message among said plurality of programmable processors; and causing, using a programmable control processor, at least one of said plurality of programmable processors to receive only some of said first digital data message, thereby to cause said plurality of programmable processors to process said first digital data message selectively, where the only some of the data message processed by said plurality of programmable processors contains a control signal; outputting image information from said plurality of programmable processors to an image display device based on said causing.
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106. A method of processing signals in a receiver of a broadcast or cablecast transmission, said receiver including a controllable device and having a plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a broadcast or cablecast signal; detecting a stream of digital data on said received signal; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; processing said passed first portion of said stream of digital data into a first control signal; passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor; controlling the passing of said first control signal from said plurality of programmable processors to said controllable device in response to said passed control portion; and controlling said controllable device in response to said first control signal, including; controlling the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion in response to said passed control portion; and processing said passed second portion of said stream of digital data to output image information from said plurality of programmable processors to an information output device.
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107. A method of processing signals at a receiver station having an information transmission receiver and a plurality of controllable devices, said information transmission receiver having a plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission with said information transmission receiver; detecting a stream of digital data in said information transmission; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; processing said passed first portion of said stream of digital data into a first control signal and outputting said first control signal from said plurality of programmable processors to a first of said plurality of controllable devices; controlling said first of said of said plurality of controllable devices in response to said passed first control signal; passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor; controlling, with said programmable control processor, the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion; processing said passed second portion of said stream of digital data into a second control signal based on said step of controlling and outputting said second control signal from said plurality of programmable processors to a second of said plurality of controllable devices, said second of said plurality of controllable devices and said first of said plurality of controllable devices being different controllable devices; and controlling said second of said of said plurality of controllable devices in response to said passed second control signal.
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108. A method of processing signals at a receiver station having an information transmission receiver, a decryptor, and at least one output device, said information transmission receiver having a plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information transmission with said information transmission receiver; detecting a stream of digital data in said information transmission; passing a first portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion; processing, with said plurality of programmable processors, said passed first portion of said stream of digital data and passing processed information of said passed first portion of said stream of digital data from said plurality of programmable processors to said decryptor; decrypting, with said decryptor, said processed information of said passed first portion of said stream of digital data; passing a control portion of said stream of digital data to a programmable control processor; controlling, with said programmable control processor, the passing of a second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion; processing, with said plurality of programmable processors, said passed second portion of said stream of digital data into one of a control signal, information of a sound, information of an image, and a data stream for further processing based on said step of controlling and outputting said one of a control signal, information of a sound, information of an image, and a data stream to an external device from said plurality of programmable processors to an external device; and utilizing said passed and processed second portion of said stream of digital data appropriately at said external device based on said last named step of processing.
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109. A method of communicating a control signal to at least one receiver station having a plurality of programmable processors, said at least one receiver station passing a first portion of a stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a first passing fashion, processing at least some of said passed first portion of said stream of digital data at each of said plurality of programmable processors based on said first passing fashion, and outputting processed information of said first portion of said stream of digital data from said plurality of programmable processors to a device which is external from said plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a second portion of said stream of digital data to be transmitted; receiving said control signal which at said at least one receiver station of said plurality of receiver stations operates to cause a programmable control processor at said at least one receiver station to control the passing of said second portion of said stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a second passing fashion which is different from said first passing fashion, the processing of at least some of said passed second portion of said stream of digital data at each of said plurality of programmable processors based on said second passing fashion, and the outputting of processed information of said second portion of said stream of digital data from said plurality of programmable processors to an output device which is external from said plurality of programmable processors; including said control signal and said a stream of digital data in an information transmission to be transmitted; and transmitting said information transmission including said control signal and said stream of digital data to said at least one receiver station.
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110. A method of communicating a control signal to at least one receiver station having a plurality of programmable processors, said at least one receiver station passing a stream of digital data among said plurality of programmable processors in a passing fashion, processing at least a portion of said passed stream of digital data at each of said plurality of programmable processors based on a first passing fashion, with each of said processors processing its passed portion of said stream of digital data in its own processing fashion, which processing fashion differs among individual processors of said plurality of programmable processors, and said at least one receiver station outputting processed information of said stream of digital data from said plurality of programmable processors to a device which is external from said plurality of programmable processors, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving said control signal which at said at least one receiver station of said plurality of receiver stations operates to cause a programmable control processor at said at least one receiver station to control one of said plurality of programmable processors at said at least one receiver station of change its own fashion of processing its passed portion of said stream of digital data; and transmitting said control signal said at least one receiver station. - View Dependent Claims (111, 112)
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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 NumberUS08/459,507Time in Patent Office6,906 DaysField of Search348/6, 348/7, 348/9, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/24, 348/719, 348/466, 348/467, 348/246, 348/247, 348/616, 348/617, 348/3, 380/20, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.2US Class Current370/509CPC 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
