Signal processing apparatus and methods

A multimedia receiving apparatus for gathering information on use of signals comprising:

• a plurality of input ports for receiving multimedia signals;
• an output port;
• a processor operatively connected to said plurality of input ports and said output port;
• said processor programmed for:
• identifying a signal from at least one of said plurality of input ports;
• passing said signal from said processor to said output port, wherein a way the signal is passed from said output port is based on said step of identifying;
• communicating information on a use of said identified signal, wherein the use of said identified signal comprises information of the passing of said identified signal based on said step of passing.

A method for delivery of digitally encrypted informative materials in a communications network having a transmitter station and a plurality of receiver stations, each of said receiver stations having a display, a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions, a plurality of available decryption techniques, wherein a particular decryption technique is selected based on at least one signal received via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said receiver station, each said decryption technique for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information, and a storage device, and a user, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at each of said plurality of receiver stations from said communications network a television program;
• receiving at each of said plurality of receiver stations from said communications network said digitally encrypted informative materials in an a digitally encoded transmission, said digitally encrypted informative materials that directly informs said user by providing information to form human intelligible content;
• decoding said digitally encrypted informative materials in said digitally encoded transmission at each of said plurality of receiver stations;
• storing said digitally encrypted informative materials from said step of decoding at said storage device at of each of said receiver stations;
• decrypting at at least one of said plurality of receiver stations said digitally encrypted informative materials to form decrypted informative materials using at least one of a plurality of decryption techniques available at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations, wherein decrypting is based on an input by said user at said at least one of said plurality of receiver stations;
• recording the information on a use of said decrypted informative materials at each of said plurality of receiver stations based on said input;
• and
• reporting the a record of said information on the use of said decrypted informative materials from said step of recording from each of said plurality of receiver stations to said transmitter station based on said input.

A method of gathering information on aggregate use of at least one of programming, data, equipment and a digital control signal at a receiver station, said receiver station having a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions, a digital memory, and a controlled device, wherein said instruction based processor is arranged to have its operating instructions reprogrammed via a communication channel operatively connected to a source geographically remote from said receiver station, wherein said communication channel carrying only digital information during transmission of said operating instructions for reprogramming, said receiver station transferring said gathered information to a remote station, said method comprising the steps of:

• (1) identifying said at least one of programming, data, equipment and a digital control signal;
• (2) monitoring aggregate use of said at least one of programming, data, equipment and a digital control signal at said receiver station;
• (3) storing a record in said digital memory of the aggregate use of said at least one of programming, data, equipment and a digital control signal from said step of monitoring;
• and
• (4) communicating information evidencing said aggregate use of said at least one of programming, data, equipment and a digital control signal from said step of storing a record from said receiver station to a geographically remote station using a communication channel carrying only digital information during said step of communicating.

A method for gathering an identifying digital signal from a plurality of identifying digital signals generated by passing a digital control signal at a receiver station to at least one controlled device, said receiver station having an input and an output, a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions, and a digital storage device, wherein said instruction based processor is arranged to have its operating instructions reprogrammed via a communication channel operatively connected to a source geographically remote from said receiver station, wherein said communication channel carrying only digital information during transmission of said operating instructions for reprogramming, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a digital control signal at said receiver station originating from a geographically distant transmitting source;
• detecting said digital control signal at said receiver station;
• passing said digital control signal from a detector to said at least one controlled device, said digital control signal operating said controlled device;
• generating based on said step of passing said digital control signal, a plurality of digital signals that identify characteristics of said digital control signal in said step of passing, based on the digital control signal's content, wherein said instruction based processor performs said step of generating under control of said operating instructions;
• selecting at least one identifying digital signal from said plurality of identifying digital signals based on said step of generating said identifying digital signals;
• and
• storing said at least one identifying digital signal based on said step of selecting said at least one identifying digital signal in said digital storage device.

A media receiving apparatus for gathering at least one identifying digital signal from a plurality of identifying digital signals comprising:

• electronic input apparatus for receiving media signals originating from a geographically distant transmitting source;
• an output port;
• a digital storage device;
• a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions operatively connected to said input apparatus, said output port, and said digital storage device, wherein said instruction based processor is arranged to have its operating instructions reprogrammed via a communication channel operatively connected to a source geographically remote from said media receiving apparatus, wherein said communication channel carrying only digital information during transmission of said operating instructions for reprogramming, said instruction based processor programmed for:
• receiving a media signal from said input apparatus;
• detecting a digital control signal from said media signal;
• passing said digital control signal from said media signal, to said output port, said output port transferring said digital control signal to an external device, said digital control signal operating said external device;
• generating said plurality of identifying digital signals that identify characteristics of said digital control signal from the step of passing said digital control signal;
• selecting said at least one identifying digital signal from said plurality of identifying digital signals from said step of generating said plurality of identifying digital signals;
• and
• storing said at least one identifying digital signal from said step of selecting at least one said identifying digital signal in said digital storage device.

A method for tracking results of a comparison of digital control signals at a receiver station in a communications network, said network having at least one transmitter station and at least one receiver station, wherein said at least one transmitter station is geographically distant from said at least one receiver station, said at least one receiver station having at least one instruction based processor controlled by operating instuctions, at least one digital storage device, and at least one input device adapted to receive user input, wherein said instruction based processor is arranged to have its operating instructions reprogrammed via a communication channel operatively connected to a source geographically remote from said media receiving apparatus, wherein said communication channel carrying only digital information during transmission of said operating instructions for reprogramming, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at said at least one input device at least one user input based on a request for user input;
• storing said at least one user input at said at least one digital storage device;
• receiving at said at least one receiver station at least one information transmission from said at least one transmitter station, said at least one information transmission including at least one processor instruction, said processor instruction comprising executable computer code that enables a an instruction based processor to execute a function under control of said operating instructions;
• comparing said received at least one processor instruction with said stored at least one user input based on said received at least one information transmission;
• authorizing processing at said at least one receiver station of said at least one processor instruction based on the result from said step of comparing;
• and
• tracking a result of said step of comparing, by recording an indication of said result at said at least one digital storage device and an indication of processing said at least one processor instruction.

A method of processing digital signals at a receiver station having a computer, a programmable controller, and an output device, said computer being programmed to store user data and communicate information based on said stored user data, said programmable controller being programmed to control said receiver station in response to processor code from a geographically remote supplier via electronic transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing user data in digital memory of said computer at said receiver station;
• (a) (b) receiving processor code from said geographically remote supplier via electronic transmission, said step of receiving processor code occurring after said step of storing user data;
• (b) (c) detecting said processor code;
• (c) (d) passing a portion of said processor code selectively to a first apparatus;
• (d) (e) executing a portion of said processor code at said programmable controller;
• (e) (f) controlling said computer in accordance with said processor code based on said stored user data;
• and
• (f) (g) storing information evidencing the step of passing a portion of said processor code selectively to a first apparatus and evidencing execution of a function performed by or initiated by said first apparatus in consequence of processor code having been passed selectively to said first apparatus;
• and
• (h) displaying human intelligible information unique to a user based on said stored user data, wherein said step of displaying is based on said step of controlling.

A method of processing digital signals at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an information transmission at a receiver station, said information transmission including television programming and a plurality of embedded and encrypted digital signals;
• detecting and identifying at least one of said plurality of embedded and encrypted digital signals in said information transmission;
• decrypting said at least one identified embedded and encrypted digital signal to form at least one identified embedded digital signal using at least one of a plurality of decryption techniques available at said receiver station, wherein a particular decryption technique is selected based on at least one signal received via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said receiver station, each said decryption technique for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information;
• selecting a controllable receiver station apparatus based on information within said at least one identified embedded digital signal;
• passing said at least one identified embedded digital signal to or within at least one reprogrammable device at said receiver station;
• controlling said controllable receiver station apparatus based on executable processor code within said at least one identified embedded digital signal;
• and
• monitoring information evidencing said step of controlling by storing information evidencing said step of passing and information evidencing said step of controlling;
• and
• displaying human intelligible information based on at least a portion of said at least one identified embedded digital signal.

A method of collecting and reporting the electronic distribution of data programming material in a communications network having a transmitter station and a receiver station, wherein said transmitter station is geographically distant from said receiver station, said transmitter station having an electronic input device for inputting a command, a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions for distributing said data programming material and collecting billing records and a digital storage device to store said data programming material, said receiver station having apparatus to receive said billing records, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a command at said electronic input device at said transmitter station;
• receiving digitally encrypted data programming material at said transmitter station via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said transmitter station;
• decrypting said digitally encrypted data programming material using at least one of a plurality of decryption techniques available at said transmitter station to form said data programming material, wherein a particular decryption technique is selected based on at least one signal received via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said transmitter station, each said decryption technique for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information;
• storing said data programming material in said digital storage device;
• distributing said data programming material from said digital storage device at said transmitter station in response to said command from said step of inputting a command;
• creating a billing record comprising user specific data at said transmitter station to evidence use of said data programming material at said transmitter station, said billing record evidencing how said data programming material is used by a subscriber;
• transmitting said billing record from said step of creating a billing record to said receiver station over a data network carrying only digital information during said step of transmitting;
• and
• receiving said billing record from said step of transmitting said billing record at said receiver station from said data network.

A method for collecting and reporting the electronic distribution of programming material in a communication network having a transmitter station and a plurality of receiver stations, said transmitter station having apparatus to collect data from said plurality of receiver stations, each at least one of said plurality of receiver stations having a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions for detecting identification signals and establishing local use of said programming material and a storage device to record said local use of said programming material, wherein said instruction based processor is arranged to have its operating instructions reprogrammed via a communication channel operatively connected to a source geographically remote from said receiver station, wherein said communication channel carrying only digital information during transmission of said operating instructions for reprogramming, wherein said each at least one of said plurality of receiver stations stores a unique identifier, said method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting programming material from said transmitter station to a plurality of receiver stations;
• transmitting identification signals that correspond to said programming material transmitted in said step of transmitting programming material;
• and
• receiving automatically from each of said plurality of receiver stations using a communication channel carrying only digital information during said step of receiving, after local use at said plurality of receiver stations of said programming material transmitted in said step of transmitting programming material, data that reflect local use of said programming material,
• wherein said data include at least a portion of said program identification signals, said unique identifier, and time information evidencing when the programming was used.

A method of processing signals at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an information transmission at a receiver station, said information transmission including television programming and a plurality of embedded and encrypted digital signals;
• detecting and identifying at least one of said plurality of embedded and encrypted digital signals in said information transmission;
• decrypting said at least one identified embedded and encrypted digital signal to form at least one identified embedded digital signal using at least one of a plurality of decryption techniques available at said receiver station, wherein a particular decryption technique is selected based on at least one signal received via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said receiver station, each said decryption technique for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information;
• selecting a controllable receiver station apparatus based on information within said at least one identified embedded digital signal;
• passing said at least one identified embedded digital signal to or within at least one reprogrammable device at said receiver station;
• controlling said controllable receiver station apparatus based on instructions within said at least one identified embedded digital signal;
• and
• storing information evidencing said step of controlling,
• wherein the receiver station stores some information that evidences a second passing of said at least one identified embedded digital signal, and
• wherein a digital storage device stores data, programming, or one or more digital control signals and the evidence of said second passing is selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) two or more sources of an embedded digital signal, with at least one of said sources designating a digital storage device;
• and
• (b) two or more different times designating an embedded digital signal, with at least one of said times designating time shifting.

A method of collecting and reporting the electronic distribution of data programming material in a communications network having a transmitter station and a receiver station, wherein said transmitter station is geographically distant from said receiver station, said transmitter station having an electronic input device for inputting a command, a an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions for distributing said data programming material and collecting billing records and a digital storage device to store said data programming material, said receiver station having apparatus to receive said billing records, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a command at said electronic input device at said transmitter station;
• receiving digitally encrypted data programming material at said transmitter station via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said transmitter station;
• decrypting said digitally encrypted data programming material using at least one of a plurality of decryption techniques available at said transmitter station to form said data programming material, wherein a particular decryption technique is selected based on at least one signal received via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said transmitter station, each said decryption technique for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information;
• storing said data programming material in said digital storage device;
• distributing said data programming material from said digital storage device at said transmitter station in response to said command from said step of inputting a command;
• creating a billing record at said transmitter station to evidence use of said data programming material at said transmitter station;
• transmitting said billing record from said step of creating a billing record to said receiver station over a data network carrying only digital information during said step of transmitting;
• receiving said billing record from said step of transmitting said billing record at said receiver station from said data network;
• storing said billing record from said step of creating a billing record at said transmitter station to accumulate a plurality of billing records;
• and
• transmitting said plurality of billing records in response to said accumulated plurality of billing records reaching a predetermined amount.

A multimedia receiving apparatus for gathering information on use of signals comprising:

• a plurality of input ports for receiving multimedia signals;
• an output port;
• an instruction based processor controlled by operating instructions operatively connected to said plurality of input ports and said output port;
• said instruction based processor programmed for:
• decrypting an encrypted digital signal received at said multimedia receiving apparatus via electronic transmission from a geographically remote location, wherein said step of decrypting forming a digital signal using at least one of a plurality of decryption techniques available at said multimedia receiving apparatus, wherein a particular decryption technique is selected based on at least one signal received via electronic transmission from a location geographically remote from said multimedia receiving apparatus, each said decryption technique for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information;
• identifying said digital signal from at least one of said plurality of input ports;
• passing said digital signal from said instruction based processor to said output port, wherein a way the digital signal is passed from said output port is based on said step of identifying;
• and
• communicating information on a use of said identified digital signal, wherein said information on the use of said identified digital signal comprises information of the passing of said identified digital signal based on said step of passing.