| 摘要 |
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 (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. |
| 主权项 |
1. A method of commencing to present a mass medium programming presentation at a receiver station having a receiver for receiving mass medium programming, output apparatus operatively connected to said receiver for delivering said mass medium programming and related information to a subscriber, and a processor operatively connected to at least one of said receiver and said output apparatus for controlling said at least one of said receiver and said output apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
inputting to said processor a subscriber datum designating one of 1) a portion of said mass medium programming to receive and 2) a portion of a programming presentation to output; controlling said receiver station to receive said mass medium programming; delivering said mass medium programming to said output apparatus, said mass medium programming outputted for a discernible duration of time at said receiver station, said discernible duration of time including a sequence of discernible intervals of time during which specific local data are delivered at said receiver station in conjunction with said mass medium programming, a first interval of said sequence of discernible intervals of time separated from a second interval of said sequence of discernible intervals of time by a discernible period of time included in said discernible duration of time between said first interval and said second interval during which an intermediate portion of said mass medium programming is outputted and during which none of said specific local data is outputted at said output apparatus at said receiver station visibly or audibly in conjunction with said intermediate portion of said mass medium programming, said first interval including specific mass medium programming content, each of said discernible duration of time, said first and second intervals of said sequence of discernible intervals of time, and said discernible period of time outputted an amount of time of sufficient length that its programming output at said output apparatus is discernible to a human being with normal senses, especially vision and hearing; generating locally at said receiver station said specific local data by processing automatically, with said processor, information stored at said receiver station, wherein a specific first datum of said generated specific local data has information content which is different from information content of a specific second datum of said generated specific local data; controlling, based on a specific time of presenting said specific mass medium programming content when said mass medium programming is outputted at said receiver station, said receiver station to output a first portion of said mass medium programming presentation to said subscriber at said output apparatus in said first interval, said first portion of said mass medium programming presentation providing in said first interval one of a simultaneous and a sequential presentation of said specific first datum of said generated specific local data in conjunction with said specific mass medium programming content, wherein said mass medium programming presentation at least one of explains and makes apparent a meaning of said specific first datum of said generated specific local data; ceasing to output said first datum of said generated specific local data before the beginning of said discernible period of time included in said discernible duration of time such that during said discernible period of time none of said generated specific local data is outputted visibly or audibly at said output apparatus at said receiver station; and preparing to present at said output apparatus a second portion of said mass medium programming presentation to said subscriber in said second interval, said second portion of said mass medium programming presentation including said specific second datum of said generated specific local data in said second interval. |
