Systeme unifie de communication a programmation regroupant les communications de l'art anterieur (telles que par exemple la television, la radio, l'impression transmise electroniquement, et les communications par ordinateur) ainsi que les nouveaux mass medias specifiques aux utilisateurs. Unified programming communication system involving communications of the prior art (such as eg television, radio, print transmitted electronically, and computer communications) and new mass media specific users. Dans le systeme unifie, des moyens (205) et procedes mettant en oeuvre des systemes d'ordinateurs ont la capacite de produire des informations specifiques a un utilisateur particulier, simultanement a chaque poste (26) d'une pluralite de postes d'abonnes (26). In the unified system, means (205) and methods employing computer systems have the ability to generate specific information to a particular user, simultaneously with each station (26) a plurality of subscriber stations ( 26).

Signal processing apparatus and methods.

A message is provided to a tracking server system in response to a client system referencing a predetermined resource locator that corresponds to a resource external to the tracking server system. The tracking server system indirectly provides for the client system to have an informational element selectable by the client system, where the informational element is graphically identified on the client system with informational content obtainable from a content server system through use of a content resource locator. The informational element includes a tracking resource locator, referencing the tracking server system, and data identifying the informational element. The selection of the informational element causes the client system to use the tracking resource locator to provide the data to the tracking server system and to use the content resource locator to obtain the informational content from the content server system.

Method and apparatus for redirection of server external hyper-link references

An addressable cable television control system controls television program and data signal transmission from a central station to a plurality of user stations. The data signals include both control and text signals in video line format which are inserted on the vertical interval of the television signals, thereby freeing all channels for transmission of both television and data signals. Moreover, full-channel teletext data in video line format may be transmitted on dedicated text channels with the modification of only head end processors. An intelligent converter at each remote user location uses the data signals to control access to the system on the basis of channel, tier of service, special event and program subject matter. The converter uses a graphics display generator to generate display signals for the presentation of the text data on the television receiver and for the generation of predetermined messages for the viewer concerning access, emergencies and other functions. The converter processes vertical interval text data and selected full-channel text data, both transmitted in video line format. The keyboard of the subscriber provides a number of different functional inputs for the subscriber to interface with the system. The converter also includes apparatus for interfacing with two-way interactive data acquisition and control systems.

Addressable cable television control system with video format data transmission

A unified system of programing 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.

Signal processing appparatus and methods

Method and apparatus for secure transmissions. Each user is provided a registration key. A long-time updated broadcast key is encrypted using the registration key and provided periodically to a user. A short-time updated key is encrypted using the broadcast key and provided periodically to a user. Broadcasts are then encrypted using the short-time key, wherein the user decrypts the broadcast message using the short-time key.

Method and apparatus for security in a data processing system

At the sending end randomly generated binary code number signals are inserted into predetermined lines of the vertical retrace interval. The code number signals are also processed in accordance with a program assignment code to change or leave unchanged a predetermined characteristic of the television signal. Periodically, program identification signals, each signifying a program identification number, are inserted into the television signal instead of the binary code number signals. At the receiving end, the program identification signals are utilized to address a random access memory which furnishes program assignment signals. The program assignment signals control logic circuits to process the code number signals in accordance with the same program assignment code utilized at the transmitter. The output of these logic circuits is then utilized to decode the received encoded signal. Further, means are furnished to record the program identification number in the random access memory at the receiver for billing purposes, if the subscriber indicates acceptance of the program. Both this recording and the decoding of the encoded signal are impeded if a catagory switch at the decoder furnishes a catagory selection number which does not correspond to a catagory selection number inserted into the encoded television signal at the transmitting end.

Pay television system utilizing binary coding

Each decoder has a random access memory storing program code numbers, a security number, a customer identification number, and program identification numbers utilized for billing purposes. Communication between each decoder and a central computer is subscriber-initiated. The program code numbers must be updated periodically by means of a computer-decoder transmission which takes place only after the program identification numbers have been transmitted from the decoder to the computer. During predetermined cycles in the system sequence, the read-out of the random access memory takes place in reverse order and starting at an arbitrary start point hard-wired into each decoder. Confusion signals are transmitted while program identification numbers already transmitted to the computer are erased in the decoder memory. The communication through the telephone network takes place by frequency shift keying.

Billing method and system for a subscriber of a pay television system

A diaper product is formed by the steps of first installing a sensor element onto a first layer of the plurality of layers of material; second installing a layer of absorbent material onto the first layer of the plurality of layers material; and forming the combined first layer of the plurality of layers of material with the sensor element installed thereon and the layer of absorbent material into a disposable diaper product. Electrical contacts communicate with the sensor element. A transmitter is installed within a transmitter housing that has first and second portions that are pivotally joined to one another, and is arranged to transmit a signal responsive to the sensor element and to a duration of a predetermined period of time that corresponds to the duration of a selectable condition of the diaper. A receiver responds to predetermined transmitters, each transmitter being associated with a respective patient.

Smart disposable diaper with sanitary transmitter

Due to unavoidable timing and slope errors in the leading and trailing edges of invert pulses utilized in encoding and decoding of the television signal by inversion of the picture signal portion relative to the synchronizing signal portion, transients are generated. A clamping circuit clamps the television signal to a predetermined reference level for short time intervals around each desired switching time instant. The time intervals are sufficiently long to include the maximum possible variation in the actual timing of the switching time instants. A grey level is thus inserted at the encoder. At the decoder, a clamping circuit clamps the television signal to ground potential during the grey level intervals thereby balancing the DC components of the signal portions.

Transient suppression and grey level coincidence in a subscription television system

A system for scrambling and descrambling the image associated with a video signal employs the shifting in time of a video image after removal of vertical and horizontal synchronization, and color burst reference signals. Coded data which contains information necessary for unscrambling the video image is transmitted in the video signal itself during the vertical blanking interval. A high level of simplification in the decoding is achieved by merely restoring synchronization and color reference data without the need for returning the video image to its original timing. This system provides the significant advantage of permitting unscrambling by unlocking vertical and horizontal synchronization of the video image using inexpensive circuitry at the decoder end, while affording the operator of the transmitter the ability to select whether the unscrambled signal is recordable by a conventional video tape recorder at the receiving end.

H. George Pires

Papers

Pay television system utilizing binary coding

Billing method and system for a subscriber of a pay television system

Smart disposable diaper with sanitary transmitter

Transient suppression and grey level coincidence in a subscription television system

Scrambling video by horizontal and vertical time shifting