WO1997006613A2 - Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions - Google Patents

Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997006613A2
WO1997006613A2 PCT/GB1996/001944 GB9601944W WO9706613A2 WO 1997006613 A2 WO1997006613 A2 WO 1997006613A2 GB 9601944 W GB9601944 W GB 9601944W WO 9706613 A2 WO9706613 A2 WO 9706613A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ratings
user
signals
mapping
iii
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1996/001944
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1997006613A3 (fr
Inventor
Donald Fisk
Original Assignee
British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Telecommunications Public Limited Company filed Critical British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
Priority to CA002228474A priority Critical patent/CA2228474C/fr
Priority to DE69636640T priority patent/DE69636640T2/de
Priority to EP96927136A priority patent/EP0843921B1/fr
Priority to AU67067/96A priority patent/AU720464B2/en
Publication of WO1997006613A2 publication Critical patent/WO1997006613A2/fr
Publication of WO1997006613A3 publication Critical patent/WO1997006613A3/fr
Priority to HK98112397A priority patent/HK1011244A1/xx

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
    • H04H20/12—Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
    • H04H20/14—Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for monitoring programmes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/09—Arrangements for device control with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for control of broadcast-related services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/46—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for recognising users' preferences
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/61—Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
    • H04H60/66—Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54 for using the result on distributors' side
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/29—Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
    • H04H60/32—Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/35—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/47—Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for recognising genres
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00—Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/61—Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
    • H04H60/65—Arrangements for services using the result of monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54 for using the result on users' side

Definitions

  • PROGRAMME SELECTION MEANS IN A PROGRAMME TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION SYSTEM This invention relates to a multichoice reception system for signal transmissions, such as a reception system for multichoice television channels.
  • Radio and television broadcast reception systems are well-known.
  • a 5 receiver can be tuned by a user so as to select a particular broadcast programme at any given time.
  • modern radio and television receivers are often provided with so-called “presets", which may take the form of respective keys provided on the receiver itself or on a remote control unit therefor, which keys, upon actuation, tune the receiver to respective 0 broadcast frequencies which are preprogrammed by a user.
  • More sophisticated arrangements of keys may be provided in order to allow the receiver to be tuned to a large number of frequencies without requiring the provision of a corresponding number of keys.
  • ten keys numbered zero to nine, plus an "enter” key allow any number between zero and 99 or even higher to be entered, and it can be 5 arranged that keying in any of these numbers or "channels" results in the receiver being tuned to a respective broadcast frequency which has been preprogrammed by a user to correspond with that number or channel.
  • a single key or pair of keys may be provided, successive and/or prolonged actuations of which step the tuning through a preprogrammed sequence of broadcast 0 frequencies, either in one direction for a single key or in opposite directions in the case of respective keys of a pair of keys.
  • the presets may be voice-actuated, the receiver or remote control unit being capable in such a case of recognising simple spoken commands such as "up”, “down”, “one", “two”, “three” etc. 5
  • a fibre-optic cable for example, is capable of carrying several hundred television programmes simultaneously. Availability of 0 such a large number of programmes for reproduction by a receiver does, however, create selection problems for a user of the receiver; so-called "channel surfing” becomes impracticable, or at least hit-and-miss, and perusal of complete programme listings becomes a major undertaking. becomes impracticable, or at least hit-and-miss, and perusal of complete programme listings becomes a major undertaking.
  • a reception system for selecting and receiving a signal, which signal has been selected from a set of signals, at least some of the set of signals having different respective signal content
  • the system comprising: i) a receiver for receiving a selected signal; ii) user-actuable selection means for selecting, from the set of signals, a signal to be received; and iii) mapping means for mapping between the selection means and a signal selected thereby from the set wherein the mapping between specific actuations of the selection means and the actual signals selected is adjustable and the system is provided with mapping adjustment means which adjusts the mapping between specific actuations of the selection means and the signal selected thereby, in accordance with the content of the respective signals.
  • the signals need to be distinguishable, so that the selection means can differentiate between them. They do not need though to be of a particular type.
  • the signals might be digital in which case they might for instance be distinguishable by containing different respective identifying sequences.
  • the signals might be analogue in which case they might be distinguishable for instance by having different respective carrier frequencies.
  • the signals might be transmitted from the same source, or from different respective sources.
  • the receiver could be a television receiver, provided with keys which allow the user to enter specific channel numbers. The correspondence between these channel numbers and the transmissions which are selected when these numbers are entered can then be adjusted, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by the mapping adjustment means. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment could be performed so as to conform with expressed or estimated preferences of the user for programmes being transmitted.
  • the user may, for example, have pre-notified an operator of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention that normally his first preference is for programmes of a first category, for example films, his second preference is for programmes of a second category, for example news programmes, and so on.
  • the mapping adjustment means may be arranged to adjust the mapping automatically in such a way that, at any given time while the receiver is operating, the individual programmes of the first category can be selected by entering the numbers 1 to N, where N is the number of programmes of the first category currently being transmitted, the individual programmes of the second category can be selected by entering the numbers N + 1 to N + M, where M is the number of programmes of the second category currently being transmitted, and so on.
  • the mapping adjustment means may be arranged to automatically adjust the mapping in such a way that the individual programmes of the first category are selected first in the sequence, then the individual programmes of the second category, and so on.
  • the mapping adjustment means are arranged, in operation, to estimate automatically the preferences of a user of the receiver in respect of the currently available programmes and adjust the mapping in accordance with the results of the estimation. If this is the case it can be arranged, for example, that when the user selects channel " 1 " the receiver reproduces the programme which it is estimated will be his first choice of those currently being transmitted, when he selects channel "2" the receiver will reproduce his estimated second choice, and so on.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram of a multichoice television programme transmission and reception system
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a receiver included in the system of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG 3 is a flow diagram of various operations carried out in the system of Figure 1 .
  • a multichoice programme transmission and reception system comprises M sources 1 1 1 2 , ... 1 m of respective concurrent programmes where M may be, for example, several hundred.
  • the sources 1 may comprise, for example, video or audio tape or disc playback machines, receivers for respective broadcast television or radio programmes, etc.
  • First outputs 2 of the sources 1 which outputs carry the respective programmes, are coupled to respective inputs of a multiplexer 3, for example of the frequency-division or time-division type.
  • the output 4 of multiplexer 3 is connected to a trunk cable 5, for example a fibre-optic cable.
  • Trunk cable 5 feeds in turn the input 6 of a splitter 7 outputs 8 of which feed local drop cables 9 which again may be of the fibre-optic type.
  • the cables 9 couple the splitter 7 to first inputs 1 0 of respective subscriber's receivers 1 1 which are each capable of selecting a programme from one of the sources 1 and reproducing that programme.
  • the part of the system of Figure 1 described so far is conventional.
  • the sources 1 have respective data outputs 1 2 and the receivers 1 1 have respective data input/outputs 1 3.
  • the data outputs 1 2 are coupled to respective inputs 14-, , 14 2 , ... 14 m of a data processor 1 5 and the data input/outputs 13 are coupled to an output/input 1 6 of processor 1 5 via a multiplexer/demultiplexer 1 7.
  • the multiplexer/demultiplexer 17 and the couplings between it and the receivers 1 1 and the processor 1 5 may for example be constituted by part of a public switched communications network.
  • data communications between the output/input 1 6 of processor 1 5 and the input/outputs 1 3 of receivers 1 1 may for example be achieved via the trunk cable 5 and the respective local drop cables 9 if they, the splitter 7 arid the multiplexer 3 are made bi-directional, and an input/output is provided on multiplexer 3 coupled to the output/input 1 6 of processor 1 5.
  • the multiplexer/demultiplexer 1 7 together with the couplings between it and the receivers 1 1 and the processor 1 5 may, of course, be omitted.
  • FIG 2 is a block diagram of each receiver 1 1 of Figure 1 .
  • the receiver 1 1 comprises in known manner a controllable selector 1 8 for selecting any one of the programmes supplied to the input 10 from the sources 1 of Figure 1 and passing it on to the input 1 9 of programme reproduction means 20.
  • Reproduction means 20 may, for example, comprise an audio amplifier and loudspeakers if the programmes supplied to input 1 0 are audio programmes, or a video amplifier, a display device and circuitry for controlling the display device if the programmes supplied to input 1 0 are video programmes.
  • a control input 21 of selector 1 8 is fed with control signals from an output 22 of a suitably programmed micro-processor 23, the control signals determining which programme is selected by selector 1 8 and passed on to reproduction means 20.
  • a key-pad 24 which enables a user to enter channel numbers has its output coupled to an input 25 of microprocessor 23. Each time a channel number is entered by a user into key-pad 24 while the receiver is operating, microprocessor 23 responds by generating a digital code on its output 22, which code causes the selector 1 8 to select a specific one of the programmes fed to input 10.
  • a memory 26 is connected to an input/output 27 of microprocessor 23 and the receiver on/off switch 28 has an output 29 connected to an input 30 of microprocessor 23.
  • the receiver on/off switch 28 Conventionally there would be a fixed one-to-one relationship between the channel numbers entered into key-pad 24 and the digital codes generated at the microprocessor output 22 in response, these codes being stored in corresponding locations in a portion 26A of the memory 26.
  • microprocessor 23 Upon a given channel number being entered into key-pad 24 microprocessor 23 would respond by accessing the location in memory portion 26A corresponding to that number and read out the contents onto the output 22.
  • a look-up table is stored in a portion 26B of memory 26.
  • this look-up table (which is reprogrammable) translates in an adjustable manner the channel numbers entered into key-pad 24 into addresses of respective ones of the locations in the memory portion 26A. More specifically, when a channel number is entered into key-pad 24, microprocessor 23 responds by accessing a location in memory portion 26B which is assigned to that channel number and reads out the contents of that location. These contents constitute the address of a location in memory portion 26A and microprocessor 23 uses these contents to address that location and read out its contents onto its output 22.
  • selector 1 8 in response to the entering of the various channel numbers into key-pad 24, i.e. the mapping of the channel numbers to the programmes, is, unless this feature is disabled, determined by the look-up table in memory portion 26B.
  • the microprocessor is programmed to dispatch first and second specific signals on input/output 1 3 to the processor 1 5 of Figure 1 each time the receiver 1 1 is switched on and is subsequently switched off respectively, signals being supplied at these times to input 30 from on/off switch 28. These specific signals each identify the receiver 1 1 from which the signal has come.
  • Processor 1 5 uses these signals to maintain in storage a list of all the receivers 1 1 which are currently operational. Processor 1 5 is furthermore supplied on its inputs 14 with information from the sources 1 . This information is supplied from any source 1 each time that source commences transmission of its next programme, and identifies that programme. Processor 1 5 responds to reception of each such item of information by storing it in memory at a location assigned to the relevant source 1 , overwriting any such information from that source which has been previously stored. Thus at any given time processor 1 5 also has in storage a complete record of the programmes being transmitted by the respective sources 1 .
  • Processor 1 5 responds to reception of an aforementioned first specific signal from a receiver 1 1 by generating an order of preference which it is estimated the user of that receiver will have for all the programmes currently being transmitted by the sources 1 . (A manner in which this can be done will be described below) . Having done this processor 1 5 sends a message to the input 13 of the relevant receiver 1 1 identifying this order of preference in terms of the particular sources 1 which are transmitting the relevant programmes.
  • the microprocessor 23 in the relevant receiver 1 1 responds to such a message by reprogramming the look-up table in memory portion 26B in such manner that, for example, a "1 " entered into keypad 24 results in selector 1 8 selecting the transmission from that source 1 which is transmitting the programme for which it has been estimated the user will have highest preference, a "2" entered into keypad 24 results in selector 18 selecting the transmission from that source 1 which is transmitting the programme for which it has been estimated the user will have second-highest preference, and so on.
  • the user of the relevant receiver 1 1 can access in turn the current programmes which it has been estimated he will prefer, in decreasing order of estimated preference, simply by entering the channel numbers one, two, three .... in succession into the keypad 24.
  • the processor 1 5 of Figure 1 receives a signal from each source 1 each time that source commences transmission of a new programme, the signal identifying that programme. Each time this occurs, in addition to updating its record of which programmes are being transmitted by which sources 1 , processor 1 5 recalculates the estimated orders of preference for the users of all the receivers 1 1 which are currently operational and transmits the results to the respective receivers via their inputs 1 3.
  • the microprocessors 23 in the relevant receivers respond to reception of these new orders of preference in the same way as they did to the order of preference received upon switch-on, i.e. by reprogramming the look-up table in the corresponding memory portion 26B to accord with the new order of preference.
  • each operational receiver continues until the relevant receiver is subsequently switched off, i.e. sends an aforesaid second specific signal to the processor 1 5.
  • the processor 1 5 calculates, or at least dispatches, a complete order of preference each time; it may be arranged to identify just the top few estimated preferences, out of a total number of programmes which is much more than this, and send these to each operating receiver 1 1 .
  • each and every receiver 1 1 is supplied with, and utilises, the estimated order of preference information while it is in operation; it may be, for example, that this information is supplied only to receivers the users of which are subscribers to such a service.
  • the processor 1 5 takes into account all the programmes transmitted by the sources 1 when it estimates the orders of preference in respect of each operating receiver 1 1 ; it may take into account merely a selected category or categories of programmes, e.g. films, serials, news programmes, etc, etc.
  • a method by which the processor 1 5 may estimate the preferences of the respective users for the currently-transmitted programmes will now be described. This method is particularly but not exclusively applicable to the estimation of orders of preference within a particular category of programme such as film, and relies on the processor 1 5 having information about the ratings which have been given to respective ones of these programmes, and to other programmes, by people in the past, and about the ratings which have been given in the past to at least some of the other programmes by the users of the receivers 1 1 .
  • a database of this information is maintained in memory in the processor 1 5 or elsewhere in such a way that the ratings given to various programmes by the same person can be identified as such. These ratings may be obtained, and the database increased, by for example requesting each user of the system to rate each programme he has just watched on a scale of, say, 1 to 10 and send this rating together with the identities of both the programme and himself to the processor 1 5 via the data output 1 3 of his receiver 1 1 . If, for example, the preference estimation is limited to films then, on the assumption that most films are transmitted more than once, the database will eventually contain ratings on most of those currently being transmitted. As far as films which have not been previously rated are concerned these may merely be automatically included in, or excluded from, a short list of estimated preferences for a given user in accordance with instructions he has previously given.
  • Figure 3 is a flow diagram of the various operations carried out by processor 1 5 of Figure 1 when such a method is employed, in response to the switching on of any receiver 1 1 and, in respect of each and every operating receiver 1 1 , in response to the start of transmission of a new programme by any of the sources 1 .
  • the various blocks etc have the following significances.
  • Test 42 and steps 32 and 43 merely ensure that an estimated rating for user i is calculated for each of the programmes currently being transmitted by the sources 1 , with the exception of any programmes he has previously rated. (It is assumed that user i will not wish to experience again any programme he has previously rated. Of course the opposite assumption could alternatively be made, in which case the path from the "yes" (Y) output of test 33 to test 42 should include the further step of storing user i's previous rating as the estimated rating for the programme currently being transmitted by the relevant source s).
  • Steps 34 to 36 serve to determine "best-fit" linear equations for converting ratings given to programmes by other people into equivalent ratings by user i.
  • Steps 34 and 35 serve to ensure that the data used in the actual determination in step 36, i.e. ratings previously given to specific programmes by both user i and other people, is that which is likely to give the most accurate result when the equation is used to convert the ratings previously given by the other people to the programme k s into an equivalent rating by user i. More specifically the data is chosen to be that which relates to the N programmes whose ratings by the other people are most closely correlated with the ratings they have given to the programme k s . In practice this normally means that N programmes are selected which are of the same genre as programme k s or are similar in other ways, e.g. appeal to the same age group.
  • step 36 Having determined the "best-fit" equations in step 36 for each of the other people these equations are then used in step 37 to convert the individual ratings of the programme k s by the corresponding other people into equivalent ratings by user i.
  • a further "best-fit" linear equation is then determined in steps 38 and 39, this time for converting the equivalent ratings obtained in step 37 into an overall estimated rating for the user i.
  • This conversion is done in such a way as to take into account, for each person whose rating of the programme k s has given rise to an equivalent rating in step 37, the correlation between the ratings he has given the N other programmes and the ratings user i has given the same programmes. Accordingly the relevant correlations are calculated in step 38 and the further best-fit equation is determined in step 39 as being that of the straight line which best fits the set of points which would be obtained by plotting the equivalent ratings against the correlations calculated for the people from whose ratings the equivalent ratings have been derived. The estimated rating is then calculated from the further best-fit equation in step 40 as being the equivalent rating corresponding to a correlation of + 1 .
  • the sources 1 are ordered in step 44 in terms of the corresponding estimated ratings and this order is transmitted to the receiver 1 1 of the user i in step 45.
  • the estimated ratings for the user of another receiver 1 1 can be calculated and the sources 1 ordered in accordance therewith, and so on for the user of each receiver 1 1 in succession.
  • the estimated ratings for the users of several receivers can be calculated, and the sources correspondingly ordered, in parallel with each other.
  • the processors 23 in the various receivers 1 1 are programmed to respond to reception by the relevant receiver of an order of sources
  • This look-up table contains a memory location corresponding to each channel number keyed into key-pad 24, whereas memory portion 26A contains a memory location corresponding to each source 1
  • the microprocessor 23 responds by writing the addresses of the various locations in memory portion 26A into respective locations in the memory portion 26B so as to produce a mapping between the various channel numbers and the various sources which corresponds to the received order of sources.
  • each receiver 1 1 may be provided for disabling/enabling the reprogramming of the look-up table. This may be arranged to occur, for example, in response to the entering of specific codes into the key- pad 24, and disabling may be arranged to result in the creation of a predetermined fixed mapping between the channel numbers and the sources, which mapping is maintained until the reprogramming is subsequently enabled once again.
  • each microprocessor 23 may be programmed to cause the programme for which it is estimated the user of the relevant receiver currently has the highest preference to be automatically selected upon switch-on of the receiver.

Abstract

Ce système de réception et de diffusion à choix multiples d'émissions comprend une pluralité de sources (1) d'emissions couplées à une pluralité de récepteurs (11) via un chemin (3, 5, 7, 9) de transmission. Des sorties (12) supplémentaires des sources (1) fournissent à un processeur (15) l'identification des émissions qu'elles sont en train de diffuser. Ce processeur (15) comprend une base de données des taux d'audience pour diverses émissions, établie d'après la préférence des utilisateurs des récepteurs (11), et se sert de ces données pour estimer l'ordre de préférence de l'utilisateur de chaque récepteur (11) par rapport aux émissions en cours de diffusion. Ce processeur (15) envoie également l'ordre correspondant des sources (1) à une entrée (13) de données du récepteur (11) approprié, lequel répond en mettant en correspondance des commandes spécifiques de son sélecteur de canaux et les sources choisies par ces commandes, afin d'être en accord avec l'ordre reçu des sources, facilitant ainsi pour l'utilisateur le choix d'une émission à partir d'un grand nombre de ceux-ci.
PCT/GB1996/001944 1995-08-09 1996-08-09 Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions WO1997006613A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002228474A CA2228474C (fr) 1995-08-09 1996-08-09 Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions
DE69636640T DE69636640T2 (de) 1995-08-09 1996-08-09 Kanalwahlvorrichtung in einer Programmübertragungs- und Empfangsvorrichtung
EP96927136A EP0843921B1 (fr) 1995-08-09 1996-08-09 Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions
AU67067/96A AU720464B2 (en) 1995-08-09 1996-08-09 Programme selection means in a programme transmission and reception system
HK98112397A HK1011244A1 (en) 1995-08-09 1998-11-27 Programme selection means in a programme transmission and reception system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95305539 1995-08-09
EP95305539.9 1995-08-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997006613A2 true WO1997006613A2 (fr) 1997-02-20
WO1997006613A3 WO1997006613A3 (fr) 1997-03-13

Family

ID=8221289

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1996/001944 WO1997006613A2 (fr) 1995-08-09 1996-08-09 Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1696596A3 (fr)
AU (1) AU720464B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2228474C (fr)
DE (1) DE69636640T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2274528T3 (fr)
HK (1) HK1011244A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997006613A2 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1458193A2 (fr) * 1998-08-26 2004-09-15 United Video Properties, Inc. Système de messages télévisuels
US10361802B1 (en) 1999-02-01 2019-07-23 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Adaptive pattern recognition based control system and method
USRE47908E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2020-03-17 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
USRE48056E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2020-06-16 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0424648A2 (fr) * 1989-10-23 1991-05-02 General Instrument Corporation Of Delaware Procédé, système et appareil pour fournir des émissions de télévision publicitaires visant des groupes démographiques
GB2256546A (en) * 1991-05-02 1992-12-09 Thomson Consumer Electronics Deletion of entries from the channel mapping list of a videocassette recorder.
GB2256549A (en) * 1991-05-22 1992-12-09 Thomson Consumer Electronics Simplified programming of a videocassette recorder having multiple and single channel sources.
GB2263035A (en) * 1991-12-13 1993-07-07 Thomson Consumer Electronics An ir led assembly for vcr control of a cable converter unit
GB2280977A (en) * 1991-04-25 1995-02-15 Videotron Groupe Ltee Television audience data gathering

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4870579A (en) * 1987-10-01 1989-09-26 Neonics, Inc. System and method of predicting subjective reactions

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0424648A2 (fr) * 1989-10-23 1991-05-02 General Instrument Corporation Of Delaware Procédé, système et appareil pour fournir des émissions de télévision publicitaires visant des groupes démographiques
GB2280977A (en) * 1991-04-25 1995-02-15 Videotron Groupe Ltee Television audience data gathering
GB2256546A (en) * 1991-05-02 1992-12-09 Thomson Consumer Electronics Deletion of entries from the channel mapping list of a videocassette recorder.
GB2256549A (en) * 1991-05-22 1992-12-09 Thomson Consumer Electronics Simplified programming of a videocassette recorder having multiple and single channel sources.
GB2263035A (en) * 1991-12-13 1993-07-07 Thomson Consumer Electronics An ir led assembly for vcr control of a cable converter unit

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE47908E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2020-03-17 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
USRE48056E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2020-06-16 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
USRE49387E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2023-01-24 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
EP1458193A2 (fr) * 1998-08-26 2004-09-15 United Video Properties, Inc. Système de messages télévisuels
US10361802B1 (en) 1999-02-01 2019-07-23 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Adaptive pattern recognition based control system and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69636640D1 (de) 2006-11-30
WO1997006613A3 (fr) 1997-03-13
AU6706796A (en) 1997-03-05
HK1011244A1 (en) 1999-07-09
CA2228474C (fr) 2003-04-08
EP0843921B1 (fr) 2006-10-18
EP0843921A1 (fr) 1998-05-27
DE69636640T2 (de) 2007-08-23
ES2274528T3 (es) 2007-05-16
AU720464B2 (en) 2000-06-01
EP1696596A2 (fr) 2006-08-30
EP1696596A3 (fr) 2012-01-04
CA2228474A1 (fr) 1997-02-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6091456A (en) Method for the setting-up of an electronic program journal and circuit therefor
CA2024868C (fr) Methode et appareil de diffusion demographique d'annonces de television
US6133910A (en) Apparatus and method for integrating a plurality of video sources
US8918800B2 (en) Receiving apparatus and receiving method, broadcasting apparatus and broadcasting method, information processing apparatus and information processing method, bidirectional communication system and bidirectional communication method, and providing medium
US6708336B1 (en) Method of and apparatus for generating and searching a database
US7035628B2 (en) Method and apparatus for content blocking
EP1207688A2 (fr) Récepteur de données diffusées
US20010003213A1 (en) System and method for content-based television program selection
US5416774A (en) Digital broadcast receiver
MXPA05003092A (es) Metodo y aparato para navegar, presentando y seleccionando canales de banda ancha, por medio de una interfaz del usuario receptor.
US6271455B1 (en) Music piece distributing apparatus, music piece receiving apparatus, music piece distributing method, music piece receiving method, and music piece distributing system
JPH06217271A (ja) データ伝送方法及びその装置
CN100534197C (zh) 广播频道管理装置和用于广播移动通信终端的方法
US20050272437A1 (en) Data acquisition system and mobile terminal
JP3480788B2 (ja) Ｃｍ放送装置
EP0843921B1 (fr) Systeme de selection d'emissions dans un systeme de diffusion et de reception d'emissions
US6262780B1 (en) Channel selection remote control
AU772763B2 (en) Ratings estimation method
US7620967B2 (en) Method for transmitting multimedia information elements, receiver of multimedia information elements distributed by said method and user interface for consulting said information elements
EP0849947B1 (fr) Récepteur de signaux de télévision à guide électronique de programmes de télévision disponibles
US20060058997A1 (en) Audio signal identification method and system
EP1134980B1 (fr) Traitement de données numériques de plusieurs trains de données
KR100258468B1 (ko) 자동튜닝장치 및 설정방법
KR100841303B1 (ko) 주문형 비디오 서비스 방법
JP3123487B2 (ja) 映像・音声信号分配装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE HU IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): KE LS MW SD SZ UG AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE HU IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): KE LS MW SD SZ UG AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1996927136

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase in:

Ref country code: CA

Ref document number: 2228474

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

Ref document number: 2228474

Country of ref document: CA

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1996927136

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 1996927136

Country of ref document: EP