US 8,914,825 B1Granted

Signal processing apparatus and methods

AssigneePersonalized Media Communications, LLC

InventorsJohn Christopher Harvey, James William Cuddihy

Life of this patent

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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.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of outputting at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation at a receiver station in a network including said receiver station and a transmitter station, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said receiver station from said transmitter station, at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission, said at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission including 1) at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming to be completed at said receiver station, 2) higher language computer code to be assembled into machine language code, and 3) a first control signal which is operative at said receiver station to deliver said at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation, wherein said machine language code is to be assembled in accordance with assembly language code and is to be operative to process data, said at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission further including said data;
passing said at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming to an output device at said receiver station for delivery to a user;
detecting at said receiver station 1) said higher language computer code, 2) said assembly language code, and 3) said data, and 4) said first control signal, said detecting based on said receiving said information transmission;
passing to a processor at said receiver station 1) said higher language computer code, 2) said assembly language code, 3) said data, and 4) said first control signal, said passing being in response to said detecting;
assembling said machine language code at said receiver station by processing said higher language computer code in accordance with said assembly language code in response to said passing;
generating a signal, at said receiver station, by processing said data in accordance with said assembled machine language code;
and
outputting, to said user at said receiver station in response to said first control signal, said at least one of an audible and a viewable-programming presentation, wherein said at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming is completed with said generated signal and presented to said user in said programming presentation.

5 more elements

receiving, at a transmitter station, at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission, said at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission including 1) at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming to be completed at said receiver station, 2) higher language computer code to be assembled into machine language code, and 3) a first control signal which is operative at said receiver station to deliver said at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation, wherein said machine language code is to be assembled in accordance with assembly language code and is to be operative to process data, said at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission further including said data;
detecting at said transmitter station 1) said higher language computer code, 2) said assembly language code, 3) said data, and 4) said first control signal, said detecting based on said receiving said information transmission;
passing to a processor at said transmitter station 1) said higher language computer code, 2) said assembly language code, 3) said data, and 4) said first control signal, said passing being in response to said detecting;
assembling said machine language code at said transmitter station by processing said higher language computer code in accordance with said assembly language code in response to said passing;
transmitting 1) said assembled machine language code, 2) said at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming to be completed, 3) said control signal and 4) said data from said transmitter station to said receiver station;
and
passing said at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming to an output device at said receiver station for delivery to a user;
generating a signal, at said receiver station, by processing said data in accordance with said assembled machine language code;
and
outputting, to said user at said receiver station in response to said first control signal, said at least one of an audible and a viewable-programming presentation, wherein said at least one of audible and viewable incomplete programming is completed with said generated signal and presented to said user in said programming presentation.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/445,054Filed 19 May 1995 · continuation
Priority: 3 Nov 1981
Granted: 16 Dec 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification81 codes

H04N 21/236
Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware: assembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. transport…
G01R 1/071
Non contact-making probes: containing electro-optic elements
H04H 20/28
Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast: arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
H04H 40/18
Arrangements specially adapted for receiving broadcast information: arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for…

Family

Application06/317,510Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Nov 1981
Application06/829,531Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Feb 1986
Application07/096,096Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Sep 1987
Application07/588,126Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Sep 1990
Application07/849,226Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Mar 1992
Application08/056,501Parent of this continuation · filed 3 May 1993
Application08/113,329Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Aug 1993
US 7,856,650 B1Parent of this continuation
US 5,335,277 AParent of this continuation
US 5,233,654 AParent of this continuation
US 5,109,414 AParent of this continuation
US 4,965,825 AParent of this continuation
US 4,704,725 AParent of this continuation-in-part
Application07/096,096Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,694,490 AParent of this continuation
Application06/829,531Parent of this continuation
US 8,914,825 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.