Multiple input/output video switch for commerical insertion system

A multiple input video switching system for receiving a plurality of programmed channel video composite signals, each programmed channel video signal corresponding to a respective channel of a plurality of channels and for selecting, on a per channel basis, said programmed channel video signal, a sequential stream of commercial insert video signals and a local video signal, said plurality of programmed channel video signals and said sequential stream of commercial insert signals respectively sent via first and second telecommunications networks, and the switching system being remotely controlled on a per channel basis, by respective first, second and third switch commands, corresponding to a respective programmed channel video signal, the commercial insert stream and said local video signal, and being sent via said second telecommunications network, the switching system comprising:

• means for generating said local video signal;
• and,
• a plurality of video switch means, a respective video switch means corresponding to one each of said plurality of channels, each video switch means receiving at three respective video inputs, the corresponding programmed channel video signal, said stream of commercial insert video signals, from said second telecommunications network, and said local video signal and having means for respectively applying the same at a video output based upon receipt of said respective first, second and third switch commands at a control input of said video switch means.

A commercial insertion system for inserting, in local available time slots in a plurality of programmed channel video composite signals, at least one of a plurality of commercial spots grouped as a sequential stream of commercial insert video signals, each said programmed channel video signal corresponding to a respective channel of a plurality of channels transmitted over a first telecommunications network, the commercial insertion system operating in conjunction with a second telecommunications network and comprising:

• at a control center:
• means for monitoring each programmed channel video signal and detecting the presence of a local avail signal in said programmed channel video signal;
• means for generating said sequential stream of commercial insert video signals comprising said plurality of spot commercials upon receipt of a send command;
• processor means, coupled to said means for monitoring and commercial insert generating means, for generating respective first, second and third switch command signals, on a per channel basis, said first switch command generated during said programmed channel video signal before and after said local avail signal, said second switch command signal generated after detection of said local avail signal and at a leading time edge of a spot commercial of said sequential stream of commercial insert video signals, and said third switch command signal generated at any time when said local avail signal is detected during a play time of an intermediate commercial spot in said sequential stream of commercial insert video signals, said processor means including means for starting said sequential stream of commercial insert video signals upon detection of a first detected local avail signal on any of said plurality of programmed channel video signals by generating said second command and applying it to said commercial insert generating means;
• means for sending, coupled to said commercial insert generating means and said processor means, said stream of commercial insert video signals and said first, second and third switch command signals for all of said of plurality of channels over said second telecommunications network to a remote cable television system;
• and,
• at said remote cable system:
• means for generating said local video signal;
• and,
• at least one video switch means for receiving at three respective video inputs, one of said plurality of programmed channel signals, said commercial insert signal and said local video signal and for respectively applying the same at a video output based upon receipt of said first, second and third switch commands, corresponding to said one programmed channel signal, at a control input of the video switch means.