Apparatus for tracking the flow of video signals by incorportating patterns of machine readable signals which will appear at predetermined locations of a television picture

Abstract

Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding video signals for identification, editing, modifying, cuing, routing, distributing, switching, activating and controlling the video signals. One of the many applications is a television program distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, by operating a first signal processing unit connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add patterns of symbols to the television picture such that the symbols are disposed at predetermined locations of the television picture and a plurality of successive patterns constituting a code uniquely identifying the program; and a second signal processing unit connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal and for producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. Apparatus for tracking the flow of television programs within a program distribution system, each program including a video signal which contains information to generate a television picture composed of successive television picture frames, the distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, said apparatus comprising: 
       first signal processing means connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add a plurality of patterns of machine readable symbols to a plurality of frames of the television picture such that each of the symbols is disposed substantially at a respective one of a plurality of predetermined locations of a respective frame of the television picture, wherein the plurality of predetermined locations are composed of a reference location and a plurality of information locations, and symbols at the information locations contain information specific to the programs; and  
       second signal processing means connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal at the information locations of each frame when a given symbol is present at the reference location of that frame and for retrieving, in response to such detection, the information contained in the symbols, wherein  
       in each frame containing symbols, the information locations have fixed positions relative to the reference location, and said second signal processing means comprise reference position location means for detecting signal elements previously added to the video signal at the reference location and for determining the present location of those signal elements in each frame.  
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second signal processing means further comprise means for identifying the present location of signal elements previously added to a video signal at information locations of a frame based on the determination of the present location of the signal elements added to the reference location of the frame. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein the signal elements added to the video signal form a predetermined pattern at the reference location of each of the plurality of frames. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for tracking the flow of television programs within a program distribution system, each program including a video signal which has at least one reference intensity level and which contains information to generate a television picture composed of lines of pixels forming successive television picture frames, each pixel having an intensity level, the distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, said apparatus comprising: 
       first signal processing means connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add a plurality of patterns of pixels constituting machine readable symbols to a plurality of frames of the television picture such that each of the nonbinary graphic symbols is disposed at a respective one of a plurality of predetermined locations of a respective frame of the television picture, wherein the plurality of predetermined locations include a reference location and at least one information location, and the symbol at the at least one information location contains information specific to the program, the symbol at each predetermined location of each of the plurality of frames being constituted by a predetermined pattern of pixels, each pixel having one of at least two predetermined different intensity levels and each of the two different intensity levels bearing a fixed relation to the at least one reference intensity level; and  
       second signal processing means connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal at the at least one information location of each frame and for retrieving, in response to such detection, the information contained in the symbols,  
       wherein said second signal processing means comprise intensity level detection means for detecting the intensity levels of the pixels of the symbol at the reference location of each of the plurality of frames.  
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein said second signal processing means further comprise second detection means for detecting signal elements previously added to the video signal at the at least one information location of each frame with respect to the intensity levels determined by said intensity level detection means. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein, said first signal processing means are disposed at a first location; said second signal processing means are disposed at a second location remote from said first location; and said apparatus further comprises video signal level adjustment means coupled to said intensity level detection means for adjusting the video signal in order to eliminate any difference between the predetermined intensity levels and the intensity levels detected by said intensity level detection means. 
     
     
       7. A device for use with a television receiver which is tunable to a plurality of channels, each channel carrying a television program composed of a video signal that includes signal elements which form machine readable symbols identifying the program, said device comprising: 
       video signal receiving means connected to the receiver to receive the program on the channel to which the receiver is tuned;  
       decoding means connected to said video signal receiving means for reading the symbols and generating an identification of the program which contains the symbols;  
       clock means providing an indication of the current time; and  
       recording means for storing a record of programs which contained symbols read by said decoding means and the time of each reading;  
       wherein said video signal receiving means comprise symbol erasing means connected for processing the video signal of the program on the channel to which the receiver is tuned in order to replace the signal elements corresponding to the symbols with replacement signal elements which produce picture regions that blend with adjacent picture regions.  
     
     
       8. A device for use with a television receiver which is tunable to a plurality of channels, each channel carrying a television program composed of a video signal that includes signal elements which form machine readable symbols identifying the program, said device comprising: 
       video signal receiving means connected to the receiver to receive the program on the channel to which the receiver is tuned;  
       decoding means connected to said video signal receiving means for reading the symbols and generating an identification of the program which contains the symbols;  
       clock means providing an indication of the current time; and  
       transmitting means connected to said decoding means and said clock means for transmitting, to a central station remote from the television receiver, data corresponding to the identification generated by said decoding means and data representing the indication provided by said clock means, wherein  
       wherein said video signal receiving means comprise symbol erasing means connected for processing the video signal of the program on the channel to which the receiver is tuned in order to replace the signal elements corresponding to the symbols with replacement signal elements which produce picture regions that blend with adjacent picture regions.  
     
     
       9. A device as defined in  claim 8  wherein said transmitting means are connected to the central station via a telephone system. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for tracking the flow of television programs within a program distribution system, each program including a video signal which contains information to generate a television picture composed of successive television picture frames, the distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, said apparatus comprising: 
       first signal processing means connected within the system for adding, to the video signal of a program, signal elements which form a plurality of sets of patterns of machine readable symbols in a plurality of frames of the television picture such that each set of patterns is added to a respective video frame, each set is composed of a plurality of patterns of the symbols, the symbols of each plurality of patterns are disposed at respective ones of a plurality of predetermined locations of a respective frame of the television picture, the symbols of each pattern are spaced from the symbols of every other pattern, and the symbols of each pattern contain a respective type of information associated with the program; and  
       second signal processing means connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal at the predetermined locations of each frame and for retrieving, in response to such detection, the information contained in the symbols.  
     
     
       11. Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein, in each frame of the plurality of frames, the predetermined locations are arranged in a plurality of groups of predetermined locations, with the groups of predetermined locations being spaced from one another, and each group of predetermined locations containing a respective one of the plurality of patterns of symbols. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus as defined in  claim 11  wherein, in each frame of the plurality of frames, said predetermined locations of each group of locations are arranged in a vertical row. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said first signal processing means are controlled to add each set of patterns only to video frames which are separated from one another by intervening video frames. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus as defined in  claim 13  wherein said first signal processing means are operative for adding only one set of patterns to any one video frame. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus for tracking the flow of television programs within a program distribution system, each program including a video signal which contains information to generate a television picture composed of a succession of video frames, the distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, said apparatus comprising: 
       first signal processing means connected within the system for adding, to the video signal of a program, signal elements which form a plurality of patterns of nonbinary graphic symbols in a plurality of video frames of the television picture such that each pattern is added to a respective video frame and is composed of a plurality of nonbinary graphic symbols which are spaced apart from one another in the video frame and are disposed at predetermined locations of the video frame, and a plurality of successive patterns constitute a code uniquely identifying the program; and  
       second signal processing means connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to the video signal and for producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.  
     
     
       16. A method for tracking the flow of television programs within a program distribution system, each program including a video signal which contains information to generate a television picture composed of a succession of video frames, the distribution system including a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, said method comprising: 
       adding to the video signal of a program, in first signal processing means connected within the system, signal elements which form a plurality of patterns of nonbinary graphic symbols in a plurality of video frames of the television picture such that each pattern is added to a respective video frame and is composed of a plurality of nonbinary graphic symbols which are spaced apart from one another in the video frame and are disposed at predetermined locations of the video frame, and a plurality of successive patterns constitute a code uniquely identifying the program; and  
       detecting, in second signal processing means connected within the system, signal elements previously added to the video signal and producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.  
     
     
       17. A control apparatus for use in connection with one or more slave units and a video signal having signal elements representing icons, wherein the video signal contains information to generate a television picture composed of successive television picture frames, a plurality of the television picture frames each contains a plurality of icons which are spaced apart in the television picture frame and each icon is a nonbinary graphic symbol, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for reading the icons of the video signal; and  
       means for controlling a slave unit in response to the icons read from the video signal, and  
       wherein the slave unit is a router and the controlling means has means for activating the router to route the video signal in accordance with the icons read from the video signal.  
     
     
       18. A control apparatus for use in connection with one or more slave units and a video signal having signal elements representing icons, wherein the video signal contains information to generate a television picture composed of successive television picture frames, a plurality of the television picture frames each contains a plurality of icons which are spaced apart in the television picture frame and each icon is a nonbinary graphic symbol, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for reading the icons of the video signal; and  
       means for controlling a slave unit in response to the icons read from the video signal, and  
       wherein the slave unit comprises automatic commercial insertion equipment and the controlling means has means for activating the insertion equipment to insert a commercial into the video signal in response to the icons read from the video signal.  
     
     
       19. A control apparatus for use in connection with one or more slave units and a video signal having signal elements representing icons, wherein the video signal contains information to generate a television picture composed of successive television picture frames, a plurality of the television pictures frames each contains a plurality of icons which are spaced apart in the margin of the television picture frame outside of the safe title area of said picture frame and each icon is a nonbinary graphic symbol, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for reading the icons of the video signal; and  
       means for controlling a slave unit in response to the icons read from the video signal, and  
       wherein the slave unit comprises a video file server.  
     
     
       20. A control apparatus for use in connection with one or more slave units and a video signal having signal elements representing icons, wherein the video signal contains information to generate a television picture composed of successive television picture frames, a plurality of the television picture frames each contains a plurality of icons which are spaced apart in the margin of the television picture frame outside of the safe title area of said picture frame and each icon is a nonbinary graphic symbol, said apparatus comprising: 
       means for reading the icons of the video signal; and  
       means for controlling a slave unit in response to the icons read from the video signal, and  
       wherein each icon is a picture of a graphic symbol comprising a plurality of pixels of different colors.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein at least one icon is a reference icon which provides reference levels for different colors of the icons. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the icon colors include white, gray and black. 
     
     
       23. An information distribution system for distributing information to a plurality of television receivers by way of video signals, said system comprising, in combination, 
       
         an encoder for inserting into at least one frame of said video signals at least one code signal representing said information, and locating said code signal in said video signals so that the code signal creates at least one corresponding visible picture element in the active picture area of a picture displayed on a receiver of said signals, said picture element being positioned within the margin of said picture outside of the visible portion of said picture so as to be substantially invisible to the viewer,  
       
       
         transmitting equipment for transmitting from a transmitting station television video signals including said code signal,  
       
       
         a plurality of receivers located remotely from said transmitting station and tunable to receive said video signals, and  
       
       
         a decoder associated with each of said receivers for decoding said code signal and providing a corresponding information signal. 
       
     
     
       24. A system as in  claim 23  in which said encoder is adapted to insert a plurality of said code signals into a plurality of fields of said video signal, in which code signals produce a plurality of corresponding visible picture elements forming at least one visible icon extending over a plurality of horizontal lines and with multiple picture elements in each line forming a sequence, said icon being located entirely in the margins of said picture outside of the normal viewing area of said picture so that, said icon is substantially invisible to the viewer. 
     
     
       25. A system as in  claim 23  in which said picture element includes a plurality of horizontal lines each made of individual picture elements variable in video signal characteristics along the length of each line to give said picture element a horizontally and vertically variable coded pattern. 
     
     
       26. A system as in  claim 25  in which said encoder is adapted to give said picture element one of a plurality of different predetermined patterns. 
     
     
       27. A remote signaling system for sending from a first location to a remote location a coded signal embedded within video signals and for decoding said coded signal at said remote location, said system comprising a transmitter at said first location, an encoder for inserting a code signal into said video signals adjacent said transmitter, and thereby creating a corresponding picture element located in a margin of the video picture and dimensioned to be outside of the visible picture area and thus be substantially invisible in a video picture produced when said video signals are displayed on a receiver of said video signals, and 
       
         at least one decoder at said remote location for decoding said coded signal and producing a corresponding signal,  
       
       
         said picture element including a plurality of horizontal line segments variable in video signal characteristics along its length to provide a predetermined coded pattern. 
       
     
     
       28. A system as in  claim 27  in which said signal characteristics include gray level. 
     
     
       29. A method for distributing information to a plurality of television receivers by way of video signals, said method comprising the steps of: 
       ( a )  transmitting from a first location video signals containing at least one code signal representing said information and locating said code signal in said video signals so that the code signal creates a corresponding visible picture element in a picture displayed on a receiver of said video signals, with the picture element being located in the margin of said picture so as to be substantially invisible to the viewer,    
       ( b )  receiving said video signals in a plurality of receivers located remotely from said first location, said receivers being tunable to receive said video signals, and    
       ( c )  providing a decoder associated with each of said receivers for decoding said code signal and producing a corresponding information signal.   
     
     
       30. A method as in  claim 29  in which said picture element comprises an array consisting of a plurality of horizontal line segments each having characteristics which can be varied along its length, and including the step of encoding said code signal to give said picture element one of a predetermined group of patterns. 
     
     
       31. A method of deleting a coded picture element from video picture signals, said coded picture element being positioned within the active picture area of a video screen, but being located outside of the picture area visible on a receiver screen and within a marginal area of said screen so as to be substantially invisible to a viewer, said method comprising replacing at least a portion of the coded picture element video signals with other video signals. 
     
     
       32. A method as in  claim 31  in which said replacing step comprises replacing said coded picture element video signals with signals corresponding essentially to the video picture signals. 
     
     
       33. A method as in  claim 32  in which said coded picture element is replaced by delaying one of an interleaved field or other frame of said video picture signals. 
     
     
       34. A method of controlling the transmission of video signals representing at least one icon in a video transmission system, said icon containing coded information which can be read by a decoder and appearing within the active picture area but outside of the picture area visible to a viewer of a receiver screen but within a picture margin where it is substantially invisible when displayed on a video screen, said method comprising the step of deleting at least a portion of said icon prior to transmission of said video signals to a remote video receiving location. 
     
     
       35. A method as in  claim 34  in which the deleting step is performed prior to sending the video signals into a cable distribution system. 
     
     
       36. A method as in  claim 34  in which the deleting step is performed prior to broadcasting said video signals. 
     
     
       37. A method as in  claim 34  in which the deleting step comprises replacing at least a portion of the video signals forming said icon with other video signals.