U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
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Network controller for cable television delivery systems

Patent 5600364 Issued on February 4, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject February 4, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

D301037

D314383

D325581

D329238

D331760

Method and system for remote reporting, particularly for pay television billing
Patent #: 4484217
Issued on: 11/20/1984
Inventor: Block ,   et al.

Television viewing center system
Patent #: 4488179
Issued on: 12/11/1984
Inventor: Kru/ ger ,   et al.

CATV scrambling system with compressed digital audio in synchronizing signal intervals
Patent #: 4688246
Issued on: 08/18/1987
Inventor: Eilers ,   et al.

Methods and apparatus for automatically identifying programs viewed or recorded
Patent #: 4697209
Issued on: 09/29/1987
Inventor: Kiewit ,   et al.

TV schedule system and process
Patent #: 4706121
Issued on: 11/10/1987
Inventor: Young

More ...

Inventors

Assignee

Application

No. 160280 filed on 12/02/1993

US Classes:

725/9, USE SURVEYING OR MONITORING (E.G., PROGRAM OR CHANNEL WATCHED)725/1, BILLING IN VIDEO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM725/35, Based on demographics or geographical area725/116Control process

Examiners

Primary: Groody, James J.
Assistant: Grant, Chris

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

  • 2044574 CA. 12/13/1992
  • 187961 EP 07/13/1986
  • 243312 EP. 10/13/1987
  • 355697 EP 02/13/1990
  • 402809 EP 12/13/1990
  • 424648 EP 05/13/1991
  • 506435 EP 09/13/1992
  • 61-060150 JP. 03/13/1986
  • 5250106 JP. 09/13/1993
  • 2168227 GB. 06/13/1986
  • 8601962 WO 03/13/1986
  • 8909528 WO 10/13/1989
  • 9010988 WO 09/13/1990
  • 9100670 WO. 01/13/1991
  • 9103112 WO. 03/13/1991
  • 9211713 WO. 07/13/1992
  • 9212599 WO. 07/13/1992
  • 9217027 WO 10/13/1992
  • 9221206 WO 11/13/1992
  • 9322877 WO. 11/13/1993

International Class

H04N 007/173

Abstract

A novel network controller for use with a digital cable headend capable of monitoring and controlling set top terminals in a television program delivery system is described. The invention relates to methods and apparatus for a network controller that manages a configuration of set top terminals in a program delivery system. The invention is particularly useful in program delivery systems with hundreds of channels of programming, a menu driven program selection system, and a program control information signal that carries data and identifies available program choices. Specifically, the invention modifies a program control information signal at the cable headend before the modified signal is transmitted to each set top terminal. This signal is used with polling methods to receive upstream data from the set top terminals. The invention initiates such upstream data retrieval, gathers all data received and compiles viewer demographics information and programs watched information. The invention processes this data and information to generate packages of advertisements, as well as account and billing reports, targeted towards each set top terminal. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software to accomplish these functions.

Other References

  • Hong Kong Enterprise advertisement: Two Innovative New Consumer Products From SVI; Nov. 1988; p. 379
  • Great Presentations advertisement: Remote, Remote; 1987; p. 32H
  • Consumer Digest advertisement: Xpand Your TV's Channel Capability; Fall/Winter 1992; p. 215
  • Henrie van den Boom: An Interactive Videotex System for Two-Way CATV Networks; AEU, Band 40; 1986; pp. 397-401
  • Daniel M. Moloney: Digital Compression in Todays Addressable Environment; 1993 NCTA Technical Papers; Jun. 6, 1993; pp. 308-316
  • Caitlin Bestler: Flexible Data Structures and Interface Rituals For Rapid Development of OSD Applications; 93 NCTA Tech. Papers; Jun. 6, 1993; pp. 223-236
  • A. D. Gelman, et al.: A Store-And-Forward Architecture For Video-On-Demand Service; ICC 91 Conf.; Jun. 1991; pp. 842-84
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