Patent · US Expired

Signal processing apparatus and methods

US5109414A · kind A · utility

449Cited by
22References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 1990
Grant dateApr 28, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/8355
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

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 (b 74, 77, 97, 98) 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, 203, 22) control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224 ), recorder/players…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.