초록 ▼

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

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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of processing information at a receiver station, said receiver station having a data storage device for storing records and a processor for creating and controlling said records, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a transmission from a programming source,

What is claimed is: 1. A method of processing information at a receiver station, said receiver station having a data storage device for storing records and a processor for creating and controlling said records, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a transmission from a programming source, said transmission including programming and a record control instruction, wherein said programming includes audio and said received transmission further comprises identification data relating to said programming; detecting said record control instruction from said received transmission and passing said record control instruction to said processor; passing said identification data relating to said programming to said processor; storing said identification data relating to said programming; selecting information from at least one of a plurality of devices at said receiver station and assembling a record according to said record control instruction, with said record including said selected information; and communicating said assembled record to a remote device. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: processing said assembled record to determine a function performed at said receiver station. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of processing is performed at said receiver station. 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of processing is performed remote from said receiver station. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming includes audio. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said programming includes television programming. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said information concerns a state of said receiver station. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming source includes a video recorder. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming source includes a video disk player. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming source includes a multimedia player. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming source is a remote programming source. 12. A method for calculating statistics on the availability and use of a plurality of apparatus at a user station, each of said plurality of apparatus having a processor to receive signals and record the status of said each of said plurality of apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: receiving programming at said user station from a programming source; detecting the presence of said received programming at said user station by at least one of said plurality of apparatus; identifying said at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming in said step of detecting; storing a data record at said user station that identifies (1) said received programming and (2) said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming from said step of identifying; and gathering statistics on the availability of said plurality of apparatus at said user station over a period of time by processing said stored data record from said step of storing; transferring said data record from said step of storing to a remote data collection station; and calculating said statistics on the availability of said plurality of apparatus at said user station over said period of time by processing said data record transferred to said remote data collection station. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a television receiver. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a radio receiver. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a telephone. 16. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a data line driver. 17. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a video recorder. 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a receiver of a video disk player. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a local video source. 20. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a computer. 21. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a printer. 22. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a computer output presentation device. 23. The method of claim 12 wherein said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus includes a speaker. 24. The method of claim 12 wherein said programming source includes a local programming source located at said user station. 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said programming source includes a manually loaded device. 26. The method of claim 24 wherein said programming source includes a disk player. 27. The method of claim 12 wherein said programming source includes a remote data source. 28. A method for calculating statistics on the availability and use of a plurality of apparatus at a user station, each of said plurality of apparatus having a processor to receive signals and record the status of said each of said plurality of apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: receiving programming at said user station from a programming source; detecting the presence of said received programming at said user station by at least one of said plurality of apparatus; identifying said at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming in said step of detecting; storing a data record at said user station that identifies (1) said received programming and (2) said identified at least one of said plurality of apparatus that detects the presence of said received programming from said step of identifying; gathering statistics on the availability of said plurality of apparatus at said user station over a period of time by processing said stored data record from said step of storing; executing a computer program at said subscriber station, said computer program receiving said data records; and searching said data records with said computer program to find a particular record from said stored data records.