EP0536628A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selection of compressed television signals from single channel allocation based on viewer characteristics
Assignee: Arris Technology Inc
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Filing: 1992-09-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of television signals are transmitted and selectively received on a single television channel allocation. Headend apparatus compresses a set of television signals, such as a main program signal and a plurality of different demographically targeted commercials. The plurality of compressed television signals are combined into a combined signal for transmission on a single television channel allocation. A receiver receiving the combined signal identifies characteristics of a television viewer, and selects a particular one of the compressed television signals from the received combined signal depending on the viewer characteristics. The retrieved signal is decompressed for use by a video appliance.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Wachob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/25; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17363
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for transmitting and selectively receiving a plurality of television signals on a single television channel allocation comprising: headend apparatus for transmitting television signals including: means for compressing a set of television signals, at least two of which correspond to different viewer characteristics, means for combining the plurality of compressed television signals into a combined signal, and means for transmitting said combined signal on a single television channel allocation; and receiver apparatus for receiving the combined signal including: means for identifying characteristics of a television viewer, selection means responsive to said identifying means for retrieving a particular one of said set of compressed television signals from the received combined signal depending on said viewer characteristics, and means for decompressing the retrieved signal for use by a video appliance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said viewer characteristics comprise demographic data pertaining to a viewer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said set of television signals comprise a television program signal and a plurality of corresponding commercial message signals targeted to different viewer demographic groups; and said selection means are responsive to a commercial message break portion of said television program signal for selecting and retrieving commercials based on the viewer demographics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said set of television signals comprise a television program signal and a plurality of corresponding message signals targeted to different viewer groups; and said selection means are responsive to a message break portion of said television program signal for selecting and retrieving messages based on the viewer characteristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Television receiver apparatus comprising: means for tuning to a television channel that carries a plurality of compressed television signals; means for identifying characteristics of at least one television viewer using said receiver; and means responsive to said identifying means for retrieving a particular television signal from said plurality based on the identified characteristics.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Television receiver apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further comprising: means for decompressing television signals retrieved from said television channel for use by a video appliance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
Television receiver apparatus in accordance with claim 5 or 6 further comprising: means for retrieving a viewer selected television program from said plurality; means responsive to a message break signal carried by said viewer selected program for actuating said retrieving means to retrieve said particular television signal during a message break; and means for returning to said viewer selected television program at the conclusion of said message break.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
Headend apparatus for broadcasting a plurality of different messages for receipt by different television viewers depending on identified viewer characteristics comprising: means for compressing a plurality of television signals including at least one program signal and at least one alternate message signal; and means for combining the plurality of compressed television signals for transmission within a single television channel allocation; wherein said combining means combine said plurality of signals in a predetermined order to enable their retrieval depending upon viewer characteristics associated with said signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising: means for inserting a message break flag into said program signal to identify the occurrence of a message break in a television program carried by said program signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Headend apparatus in accordance with claim 8 or 9 further comprising: means for transmitting a plurality of television channel signals, each containing at least one program signal and one alternate message signal in a corresponding single television channel allocation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for reproducing different messages in a common television program received by a plurality of different television viewers, comprising the steps of: providing a single television channel containing a compressed television program signal and a plurality of different compressed message signals; identifying said different compressed message signals with different viewer characteristics; detecting the occurrence of a message break in said television program signal; and selecting one of said compressed message signals for reproduction during said message break at a particular viewer site based on a correspondence between viewer characteristics identified for said site and viewer characteristics identified with the selected signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4903126A
Cited
EP0424648A2
Cited
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