Audio/video and data signal redistribution system

Abstract

A system and method for routing an output signal comprising at least one channel carrying a selected program to the user selecting the selected program. Based on information relating to the user, a server inserts or substitutes, or both, remotely from the user's premises, programming other than the selected program into the channel carrying the selected program. The system transmits the other programming to the user, in addition to or in place of the selected program, for the duration of the other programming.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for routing an output signal carrying selected program content to a user, the system comprising:
 a redistributor for receiving a plurality of input signals, the redistributor comprising:
 a server for controlling a selection of user-selected content from at least one of the input signals, responsive to one or more control signals; 
 wherein prior to transmission of the output signal to the user, the server or another server inserts or substitutes, or both inserts and substitutes, programming other than the selected content, based at least in part on data relating to the user, into the signal containing the user-selected content; and 
 at least one switch for routing the output signal to the user, wherein the server signals the switch to output an output signal to the user containing only the user-selected content and the other programming. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the data relating to the user is stored in a database associated with the server. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the data relating to the user comprises user content selections. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the data relating to the user is used for selecting at least one commercial message. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the data relating to the user is used for selecting content other than a commercial message. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the data relating to the user is used for billing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected program content comprises one or more of Internet, television, video-on-demand, telephony, data transfer, gaming, music-on-demand, T-commerce, or an informational message. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said other programming comprises a commercial message or a selectable command option or an informational message, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user remotely. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user through a command-providing device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for routing program content to a user, comprising:
 a. receiving a plurality of input signals,   b. receiving a control signal from the user requesting selected program content from at least one of the plurality of input signals,   c. inserting or substituting, or both inserting and substituting, programming other than the selected content into the at least one selected input signal, at least in part based on data relating to the user, and   d. routing to the user an output signal containing only the user-selected content and the other programming.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising, at any time, storing the data relating to the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the data relating to the user comprises content selections. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the data relating to the user is used for selecting at least one commercial message. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the data relating to the user is used for selecting content other than a commercial message. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising, at any time, billing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the selected program content comprises one or more of Internet, television, video-on-demand, telephony, data transfer, gaming, music-on-demand, T-commerce, or an informational message. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said other programming comprises a commercial message or a selectable command option or an informational message, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user remotely. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the selectable command option can be accessed by the user through a command-providing device.