Patent US5815671A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5815671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for encoding and storing audio/video information for subsequent predetermined retrieval
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-06-11
•
Granted: 1998-09-29
•
Expires: 2016-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An entertainment service consists of program material which is encoded, supplied and stored in receivers for later retrieval at the convenience of a subscriber or user. A number of unique options are available and include a format for the presentation of audio/video commercials and other message materials without interfering with the delivery of the program materials within which the message materials are to be inserted. Message materials may be targeted at specific program subscriber groups and specific program categories. The entertainment materials are electronically supplied in a unique format of the program and message materials selectively interspersed with program break flags and message flags. The flags identify and provide preselected access to the materials previously determined by the subscriber's service. The program break flags indicate where message materials are to be inserted in the program material, and the message flags identify the specific message to be inserted as well as provide time related information. The subscriber may select program material at his or her convenience in non-real time from a menu corresponding to the subscribed services.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Fraser Morrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/10; H04H20/106; H04H20/40; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/4405; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N7/08; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675; H04N5/78; H04N5/781; H04N5/84; H04N5/85; H04N5/907; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/82; H04N9/8205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for presenting preselected program materials and message materials for transmission and retrieval by a user, comprising: means for encoding the program materials and the message materials with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; a receiver for receiving and storing the encoded materials in real time; and the receiver including means for subsequently retrieving the stored preselected program and message materials while determining which stored preselected message materials to insert relative to the program materials in response to a respective signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for presenting preselected program materials and message materials for transmission and retrieval by a user, comprising: means for encoding the program materials and the message materials with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; a receiver for receiving and storing the encoded materials in real time; and the receiver including means for subsequently retrieving the stored preselected program and message materials while determining which stored preselected message materials to insert relative to the program materials in response to a respective signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for presenting preselected program materials and message materials for transmission and retrieval by a user including: means for encoding the program materials and the message materials with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; a receiver for receiving and storing the encoded materials in real time; the receiver including means for subsequently retrieving the stored preselected program and message materials while determining which stored preselected message materials to insert relative to the program materials in response to a respective signal; and means for supplying the encoded program materials, the message materials and the signals to the receiver at preselected time periods for storage in real time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for presenting preselected program materials and message materials for transmission and retrieval by a user including: means for encoding the program materials and the message materials with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; a receiver for receiving and storing the encoded materials in real time; the receiver including means for subsequently retrieving the stored preselected program and message materials while determining which stored preselected message materials to insert relative to the program materials in response to a respective signal; and means for supplying the encoded program materials, the message materials and the signals to the receiver at preselected time periods for storage in real time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including: means integral with the retrieving means for storing in real time and retrieving in non-real time user service code data indicative of message materials preselected by the user.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for storing includes: a processor for comparing the program material signals with the service code data to determine if message material is to be inserted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the signals include: a program break flag accompanying the program material and indicative of a location relative to the program material for insertion of the selected message material; and a message code flag preceding the message material and indicative of the message and of time related parameters thereof for identifying the message material which is to be inserted relative to the program material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the user service code data includes m selected programs and n selected messages; and the receiver includes: a memory for storing in real time the m selected programs in a first memory location and the n selected messages in a second memory location; and a microprocessor providing a menu responsive to the user for selecting the m selected programs at a time subsequent to storing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the preselected program and message materials are audio or video entertainment materials, or alphanumeric text, and the receiver is one of an AM/FM radio or VHF/UHF television receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein: the program break flag comprises a multiple byte identifying code which identifies the occurrence of breaks in and about program materials, and whether selected message material is inserted in the respective break; and the message code flag comprises a multiple byte identifying code which identifies the message and the time of day and date the message is to be inserted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the program break multiple byte identifying code includes identification bytes for message identification and message number, and message, subscriber service and program categories; and the message multiple byte identifying code include identification bytes for message time period and frequency, message time stamp and message number and message, subscriber service and program categories.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials, and inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials, and inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals wherein the step of encoding includes: encoding the program materials with program break flag signals determinative of the occurrence of breaks in and about program materials, and of a preselected message material for the respective break; and encoding the message materials with message code flag signals determinative of the following message material and the time of day and date the message material is to be inserted.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals wherein the step of encoding includes: encoding the program materials with program break flag signals determinative of the occurrence of breaks in and about program materials, and of a preselected message material for the respective break; and encoding the message materials with message code flag signals determinative of the following message material and the time of day and date the message material is to be inserted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 11 wherein a program break flag signal comprises a code word which identifies a break in the program material for message material insertion, and a message code flag signal comprises a code word which identifies the message material to be inserted.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals wherein: the step of storing includes storing a user service code which identifies the message materials preselected by the user; and the step of retrieving includes retrieving the user service code to determine if a message material is to be inserted.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals wherein: the step of storing includes storing a user service code which identifies the message materials preselected by the user; and the step of retrieving includes retrieving the user service code to determine if a message material is to be inserted.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals wherein the step of retrieving further includes: comparing the stored message material identification signal with the stored program material identification signal; and retrieving the stored message material if the message material and program material identification signals match.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals; storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals wherein the step of retrieving further includes: comparing the stored message material identification signal with the stored program material identification signal; and retrieving the stored message material if the message material and program material identification signals match.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals; wherein the program and message materials may be audio or video programs or alphanumeric text.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and preselected message materials to a user comprising the steps of: encoding the preselected program and message materials with identification signals; transmitting in real time the preselected program and message materials together with the identification signals storing the received materials and signals; retrieving the preselected program materials subsequently; determining preselected message materials; inserting the preselected message materials relative to the program materials if authorized in response to the identification signals; wherein the program and message materials may be audio or video programs or alphanumeric text.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time; retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; and retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time; retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; and retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of identifying includes: encoding the program materials with program break codes which indicate the insertion of message materials relative to the program materials; and encoding the message materials with message codes which identify the message materials to be inserted.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time; retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials; and providing a user service code that controls presentation of the message materials.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time; retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials; and providing a user service code that controls presentation of the message materials.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of retrieving includes: comparing the program break codes with the user service code to determine if the user is to retrieve message materials; and comparing the message codes with the program break codes to determine the message materials to be inserted relative to the program materials.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time, retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials; encoding the program materials with program break codes which indicate the insertion of message materials relative to the program materials; encoding the message materials with message codes which identify the message materials to be inserted wherein the step of retrieving message materials includes; determining in response to the program break codes a point in or about the program materials where a message material is to be inserted; and determining in response to the program break codes and message codes the number of message materials as well as the time of day and date each message material is to be inserted.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time, retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials; encoding the program materials with program break codes which indicate the insertion of message materials relative to the program materials; encoding the message materials with message codes which identify the message materials to be inserted wherein the step of retrieving message materials includes; determining in response to the program break codes a point in or about the program materials where a message material is to be inserted; and determining in response to the program break codes and message codes the number of message materials as well as the time of day and date each message material is to be inserted.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time; retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials; encoding the program materials with program break codes which indicate the insertion of message materials relative to the program materials; encoding the message materials with message codes which identify the message materials to be inserted wherein: a program break code comprises multiple bytes identifying the occurrence of breaks in and about the program materials; and a message code comprises multiple bytes identifying the message and the time of day, the date and the frequency that the message is to be inserted.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of transmitting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, comprising the steps of: identifying the preselected program materials and message materials with respective identification signals; transmitting the preselected program and message materials together with their respective identification signals for storage in real time; retrieving in non-real time the stored preselected program materials; determining message materials interspersed relative to program materials in response to the identification signals; retrieving in non-real time message materials if authorized interspersed relative to the program materials; encoding the program materials with program break codes which indicate the insertion of message materials relative to the program materials; encoding the message materials with message codes which identify the message materials to be inserted wherein: a program break code comprises multiple bytes identifying the occurrence of breaks in and about the program materials; and a message code comprises multiple bytes identifying the message and the time of day, the date and the frequency that the message is to be inserted.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 21 wherein: the program break code multiple bytes identify the message and program categories and the subscriber service category; and the message code multiple bytes identify the message and subscriber service categories as well as time related information.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
100 words
A receiver for presenting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, wherein: the program materials and the message materials are encoded with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; the receiver receives and stores the encoded materials in real time, the receiving including circuitry coupled to receive the stored preselected program and message materials and identifying signals that subsequently retrieves the stored preselected program and message materials and determines the insertion of selected message material relative to the program material in response to a respective identifying signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
100 words
A receiver for presenting preselected program materials and message materials to a user, wherein: the program materials and the message materials are encoded with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; the receiver receives and stores the encoded materials in real time, the receiving including circuitry coupled to receive the stored preselected program and message materials and identifying signals that subsequently retrieves the stored preselected program and message materials and determines the insertion of selected message material relative to the program material in response to a respective identifying signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
115 words
A receiver for presenting preselected program materials and message materials, wherein: the program materials and the message materials are encoded with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; the receiver receives and stores the encoded materials in real time, the receiving including circuitry coupled to receive the stored preselected program and message materials and identifying signals that subsequently retrieves the stored preselected program and message materials and determines the insertion of selected message material relative to the program material in response to a respective identifying signal; the receiver further stores and retrieves user service code data indicative of message materials preselected by the user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
115 words
A receiver for presenting preselected program materials and message materials, wherein: the program materials and the message materials are encoded with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; the receiver receives and stores the encoded materials in real time, the receiving including circuitry coupled to receive the stored preselected program and message materials and identifying signals that subsequently retrieves the stored preselected program and message materials and determines the insertion of selected message material relative to the program material in response to a respective identifying signal; the receiver further stores and retrieves user service code data indicative of message materials preselected by the user.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The receiver of claim 24, further including: a processor for comparing the program material signals with the service code data to determine if message material is to be inserted.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
The receiver of claim 25 wherein the signals include: a program break flag accompanying the program material and indicative of a location relative to the program material for insertion of the selected message material; and a message code flag preceding the message material and indicative of the message and of time related parameters thereof for identifying the message material which is to be inserted relative to the program material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
84 words
The receiver of claim 26 wherein: the user service code data includes m selected programs and n selected messages; and the receiver further includes: a memory coupled to receive the m selected programs and n selected messages for storing in real time the m selected programs in a first memory location and the n selected messages in a second memory location; and a microprocessor providing a menu responsive to the user for selecting the m selected stored programs in response to the identifying signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
30 words
The receiver of claim 26 wherein the preselected program and message materials include audio or video entertainment materials or alphanumeric text, and the receiver includes a radio or television receiver.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
66 words
The receiver of claim 26 wherein: the program break flag comprises a multiple byte identifying code which identifies the occurrence of breaks in and about program materials, and whether selected message material is inserted in the respective break; and the message code flag comprises a multiple byte identifying code which identifies the message and the time of day and date the message is to be inserted.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
58 words
The receiver of claim 29 wherein: the program break multiple byte identifying code includes identification bytes for message identification and message number, and message, subscriber service and program categories; and the message multiple byte identifying code includes identification bytes for message time period and frequency, message time stamp and message number and message, subscriber service and program categories.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
86 words
A receiver for presenting preselected program materials and message materials comprising: access circuitry for receiving the program materials and the message materials encoded with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; a memory circuitry coupled to the access circuitry for storing the received materials; and the memory that retrieves from the memory the stored preselected program and message materials and determines selected message materials to insert relative to program materials in response to identifying signals.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
86 words
A receiver for presenting preselected program materials and message materials comprising: access circuitry for receiving the program materials and the message materials encoded with signals identifying the respective materials and identifying when message material is to be inserted relative to program material; a memory circuitry coupled to the access circuitry for storing the received materials; and the memory that retrieves from the memory the stored preselected program and message materials and determines selected message materials to insert relative to program materials in response to identifying signals.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The receiver of claim 31, further including memory that stores and retrieves user service code data indicative of message materials preselected by a user.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
The receiver of claim 32, further including: a processor that compares the program material signals with the service code data to determine if message material is to be inserted.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
69 words
The receiver of claim 33 wherein the signals include: a program break flag accompanying the program material and indicative of a location relative to the program material for insertion of the selected message material; and a message code flag preceding the message material and indicative of the message and of time related parameters thereof that identifies the message material which is to be inserted relative to the program material.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
71 words
The receiver of claim 34 wherein: the user service code data further includes m selected programs and n selected messages; the memory stores in real time the m selected programs in a first memory location and the n selected messages in a second memory location; and a microprocessor that provides a menu responsive to the user and selects the m selected programs subsequent to storing in response to the identifying signals.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The receiver of claim 34 wherein the preselected program and message materials include audio or video entertainment materials or alphanumeric text, and the receiver includes a radio or television receiver.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
67 words
The receiver of claim 34 wherein: the program break flag comprises a multiple byte identifying code which identifies the occurrence of breaks in and about program materials, and identifies whether selected message material is inserted in the respective break; and the message code flag comprises a multiple byte identifying code which identifies the message and the time of day and date the message is to be inserted.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
58 words
The receiver of claim 37 wherein: the program break multiple byte identifying code includes identification bytes for message identification and message number, and message, subscriber service and program categories; and the message multiple byte identifying code includes identification bytes for message time period and frequency, message time stamp and message number and message, subscriber service and program categories.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3718767A
Cited
US4247908A
Cited
US4323921A
Cited
US4331837A
Cited
US4266243A
Cited
US4393277A
Cited
US4473824A
Cited
US4476559A
Cited
US4683586A
Cited
US4608456A
Cited
US4752953A
Cited
EP0128093A1
Cited
US4682368A
Cited
US4677552A
Cited
US4868866A
Cited
US5121391A
Cited
US4942616A
Cited
WO1987004309A1
Cited
US5133010A
Cited
US4916742A
Cited
US4852086A
Cited
US4788543A
Cited
US4809271A
Cited
EP0279451A2
Cited
US5152011A
Cited
WO1989001429A1
Cited
US5027400A
Cited
US5086510A
Cited
US5239700A
Cited
EP0373386A2
Cited
US5146612A
Cited
US5146473A
Cited
US5131020A
Cited
US5659877A
Cited
US5182555A
Cited
DE4024132A1
Cited
US5177685A
Cited
US5042070A
Cited
US5206641A
Cited
US5233423A
Cited
US5210611A
Cited
US5295154A
Cited
EP0552051A2
Cited
US5444312A
Cited
US5600573A
Cited
US5467087A
Cited
US5452289A
Cited
US5406626A
Cited
US5590195A
Cited
US5524051A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |