Signal processing apparatus and methods

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of delivering at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation at a receiver station, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least one of a broadcast and a cablecast information transmission, said at least one of said broadcast and said cablecast information transmission including (i) at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed, (ii) higher language computer code to be assembled into machine language code, (iii) assembly language code, (iv) data to be processed in accordance with said machine language code, and (v) a first control signal which is operative at said receiver station to deliver said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation; 
 passing said at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed to an output device at said receiver station for delivery to a user; 
 detecting said higher language computer code, said assembly language code, said data, and said first control signal; 
 passing said higher language code, said assembly language code, said data, and said first control signal to at least one processor at said receiver station; 
 assembling said machine language code by processing said higher language computer code in accordance with said assembly language code; 
 generating a signal by processing said data in accordance with said machine language code; 
 obtaining said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation by completing said at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed based on said generated signal and said first control signal; 
 outputting said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation to said user; 
 wherein all of the above steps are performed at said receiver station. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said outputting step further comprises outputting television programming with said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation included. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said outputting step further comprises outputting said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation at least one of simultaneously and sequentially with a graphic image. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if said outputting step outputs said audible programming presentation, said outputting step further comprises outputting said audible programming presentation with radio programming. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generated signal includes a second control signal, said method further comprising the step of controlling at least one of a receiver, a switch, a decryptor or enabling device, a storage device, a computer, and a second output device at said receiver station based on said second control signal. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generated signal includes at least one receiver station-specific data, said method further comprising the steps of:
 storing said data; 
 selecting said at least one receiver station-specific data from said pre-stored data; and 
 outputting at least one of a simultaneous and sequential presentation of said completed said at least one of said audible and said viewable programming and said at least one receiver specific data. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the steps of:
 linking said machine language code with a plurality of software modules; and 
 generating a program instruction set. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of delivering at least one of an audible and a viewable programming presentation at least one of a plurality of receiver stations, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least one information transmission at at least one transmitter station, said at least one information transmission including (i) at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed, (ii) higher language computer code to be assembled into machine language code at said least one of a plurality of receiver stations, (iii) assembly language code, (iv) data to be processed in accordance with said machine language code, and (v) at least a first control signal, wherein said assembled machine language code is operable at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to process said data to generate a signal, and wherein said at least said first control signal and said generated signal are operable at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to obtain said at least one of audible and viewable programming presentation by completing said at least one of audible and viewable programming to be completed; 
 causing said at least one of audible and viewable programming, said higher language computer code, said assembly language code, said data, and said at least said first control signal to be communicated to at least one transmitter at said at least one transmitter station in a specific order; and 
 transmitting said at least one of audible and viewable programming, said higher language code, said assembly language code, said data, and said at least said first control signal. 
 
     
     
      
       9. A method of processing signals in a network including: 
       
         receiving at a transmitter station in said network an information transmission from a remote station, said transmission including incomplete processor instructions; 
         receiving at said transmitter station a control signal; 
         detecting at said transmitter station said incomplete processor instructions and said control signal and passing said incomplete processor instructions and said control signal to a computer in said transmitter station; 
         storing said incomplete processor instructions in said computer; 
         generating information to complete said incomplete processor instructions by processing, at said computer, information stored in said computer based on said control signal, wherein said stored information is not part of said transmission; 
         completing, at said computer, said incomplete processor instructions by placing said generated information into said passed and stored incomplete processor instructions; and 
         communicating to a processor in a receiver station in said network at least a first portion of said completed processor instructions based on a second portion of said completed processor instructions. 
       
      
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein said incomplete processor instructions comprise incomplete higher language computer.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim  10  22, further comprising the step of:
 compiling, at said digital instruction based computer, said completed higher language computer code and including said compiled completed higher language computer code in machine language computer code. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 embedding, at said digital instruction based computer, said machine language code with said compiled completed higher language computer code included in a second information transmission to be transmitted. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: generating said machine language code. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: linking said compiled completed higher language computer code with a plurality of software modules. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , said method further comprising the step of:
 communicating said machine language code with said compiled completed higher language computer code included to a transmitter. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , said method further comprising the step of:
 transmitting, from said transmitter, said machine language code with said compiled completed higher language computer code included. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of claim  10  22, further comprising the step of:
 assembling, at said digital instruction based computer, said completed higher language computer code. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of claim  10  22, further comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at said transmitter station, a program instruction set and passing said received program instruction set to said digital instruction based computer; and 
 processing, at said digital instruction based computer, said completed higher language computer code based on said received program instruction set. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  10  22, wherein at least one of said steps of (i) generating information to complete said higher language computer code, (ii) completing said higher language computer code, and (iii) communicating to a processor at least a first portion of said completed higher language computer code is performed on the basis of a schedule, said method further having at least one step from the group consisting of:
 receiving, at said transmitter station, said schedule from a remote station; and 
 communicating said schedule to said digital instruction based computer. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  10  22, further comprising the step of: generating a program instruction set. 
     
     
       21. A method of processing signals in a network, comprising the steps of:
 receiving an information transmission at a transmitter station in said network, said information transmission including an incomplete higher language computer code and a first control signal; 
 receiving at said transmitter station a second control signal which operates to communicate said information transmission to a transmitter at said transmitter station; and 
 transmitting said incomplete higher language computer code and said first control signal, said first control signal being effective to cause at least one of a plurality of receiver stations in said network to generate information to complete said incomplete higher language computer code comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, wherein said second portion is operable at said at least one of a plurality of receiver stations to communicate said first portion using a message comprising an unencrypted multibit header to a an instruction based processor in a second receiver station in said network, wherein said second receiver station comprises a plurality of instruction based processors, wherein said plurality of instruction based processors operates on digital data according to instructions under control of operating system instructions stored at said second receiver station, wherein said operating system instructions support a computer file system, wherein said second receiver station is arranged to have its operating system instructions reprogrammed using a digital communication channel by operatively connecting to a source located geographically remote from said second receiver station, wherein said second receiver station decrypts, absent any descrambling, at least a portion of said first portion based on said step of transmitting, wherein decrypting at said second receiver station said at least said portion of said first portion uses at least one of a plurality of decryption algorithms at said second receiver station, wherein each of said plurality of decryption algorithms employs a different decryption algorithm than the other of said plurality of decryption algorithms, wherein a particular decryption algorithm is identified based on at least one digital code received via electronic transmission originated from a location geographically remote from said second receiver station, wherein each of said decryption algorithms for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information is based on a cipher key. 
 
     
     
       22. A method of processing signals in a network including:
 receiving at a transmitter station in said network an information transmission originated from a remote station, said transmission including incomplete digital processor instructions, wherein said incomplete digital processor instructions comprise incomplete higher language computer code;   receiving at said transmitter station a digital control signal;   detecting at said transmitter station said incomplete digital processor instructions and said digital control signal and passing said incomplete digital processor instructions and said digital control signal to a digital instruction based computer in said transmitter station;   storing said incomplete digital processor instructions in said digital instruction based computer;   generating information to complete said incomplete digital processor instructions by processing, at said digital instruction based computer, digital information stored in said digital instruction based computer based on said digital control signal, wherein said stored digital information is not part of said transmission;   completing, at said digital instruction based computer, said incomplete digital processor instructions by placing said generated information into said passed and stored incomplete digital processor instructions;   encrypting, absent any scrambling, at said transmitter station at least a first portion of said completed digital processor instructions using an encryption algorithm, wherein said encryption algorithm for converting machine readable, machine intelligible digital information into unintelligible digital information is based on a cipher key; and   communicating from said transmitter station using a message comprising an unencrypted multibit header to an instruction based processor in an ultimate receiver station in said network, said encrypted said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions based on a second portion of said completed digital processor instructions, wherein said instruction based processor operates on digital data according to instructions under control of operating system instructions stored at said ultimate receiver station, wherein said operating system instructions support a computer file system, wherein said ultimate receiver station is arranged to have its operating system instructions reprogrammed using a digital communication channel by operatively connecting to a source located geographically remote from said ultimate receiver station, wherein said ultimate receiver station decrypts, absent any descrambling, said encrypted said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions based on said step of communicating, wherein decrypting at said ultimate receiver station said encrypted said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions uses at least one of a plurality of decryption algorithms at said ultimate receiver station, wherein each of said plurality of decryption algorithms employs a different decryption algorithm than the other of said plurality of decryption algorithms, wherein a particular decryption algorithm is identified based on at least one digital code received via electronic transmission originated from a location geographically remote from said ultimate receiver station, wherein said identified decryption algorithm for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information is based on said cipher key.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, wherein said ultimate receiver station comprises a plurality of instruction based processors, said plurality of instruction based processors operating on digital data according to instructions under control of operating system instructions stored at said ultimate receiver station. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, wherein said plurality of instruction based processors at said ultimate receiver station comprise at least two different types of instruction based processors. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least said first portion of completed digital processor instructions allow said ultimate receiver station to present information that is customized for said ultimate receiver station. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, wherein said information customized for said ultimate receiver station is dependent on said ultimate receiver station's physical location. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of communicating comprises said ultimate receiver station receiving at least one microwave transmission. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least said first portion of completed digital processor instructions comprise both content and instructions that control how said content is presented. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 22, wherein said ultimate receiver station comprises a plurality of instruction based processors, said plurality of instruction based processors operating on digital data according to instructions under control of operating system instructions stored at said ultimate receiver station, wherein said plurality of instruction based processors at said ultimate receiver station comprise at least two different types of instruction based processors, wherein said at least said first portion of completed digital processor instructions allow said ultimate receiver station to present information that is customized for said ultimate receiver station, wherein said at least said first portion of completed digital processor instructions comprise both content and instructions that control how said content is presented. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29, wherein said information customized for said ultimate receiver station is dependent on said ultimate receiver station's physical location. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of communicating comprises said ultimate receiver station receiving at least one microwave transmission. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 22, wherein said stored digital information comprises physical location information. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 22, wherein said completed digital processor instructions, when executed by said instruction based processor under control of said operating system instructions at said ultimate receiver station, present a product price in human intelligible form. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 22, wherein said completed digital processor instructions, when executed by said instruction based processor under control of said operating system instructions at said ultimate receiver station, present a business selling a product that is at a location calculated to be geographically close to said ultimate receiver station in human intelligible form. 
     
     
       35. A method of processing signals in a network including:
 receiving at a transmitter station in said network an information transmission originated from a remote station, said transmission including incomplete digital processor instructions, wherein said incomplete digital processor instructions comprise incomplete higher language computer code;   receiving at said transmitter station a digital control signal;   detecting at said transmitter station said incomplete digital processor instructions and said digital control signal and passing said incomplete digital processor instructions and said digital control signal to a digital instruction based computer in said transmitter station;   storing said incomplete digital processor instructions in said digital instruction based computer;   generating information to complete said incomplete digital processor instructions by processing, at said digital instruction based computer, digital information stored in said digital instruction based computer based on said digital control signal, wherein said stored digital information is not part of said transmission and comprises physical location information;   completing, at said digital instruction based computer, said incomplete digital processor instructions by placing said generated information into said passed and stored incomplete digital processor instructions;   encrypting, absent any scrambling, at said transmitter station at least a first portion of said completed digital processor instructions using an encryption algorithm that is compatible with at least one of a plurality of decryption algorithms at an ultimate receiver station, wherein said encryption algorithm for converting machine readable, machine intelligible digital information into unintelligible digital information is based on a cipher key; and   communicating from said transmitter station using a message comprising an unencrypted multibit header to an instruction based processor in said ultimate receiver station in said network, said encrypted said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions based on a second portion of said completed digital processor instructions, wherein based on said step of communicating said ultimate receiver station decrypts, absent any descrambling, said encrypted said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions using a decryption algorithm identified from said plurality of decryption algorithms at said ultimate receiver station, wherein each of said plurality of decryption algorithms employs a different decryption algorithm than the other of said plurality of decryption algorithms, wherein at least one digital code received via electronic transmission originated from a location geographically remote from said ultimate receiver station identifies said decryption algorithm, wherein said identified decryption algorithm for converting unintelligible digital information into machine readable, machine intelligible digital information is based on said cipher key, wherein said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions are executed at said instruction based processor under control of operating system instructions that support a computer file system at said ultimate receiver station to present a business selling a product that is at a location geographically close to said ultimate receiver station in human intelligible form.   
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, wherein said at least said first portion of said completed digital processor instructions, when executed by said instruction based processor under control of said operating system instructions at said ultimate receiver station, present a product price in human intelligible form.