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`11.
`
`The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitting means (292, 294, 296)
`
`includes means for transmitting the signal to a plurality of selectable satellite
`
`transponders and wherein the apparatus is further characterized by means for
`
`grouping television programs into separate groups for transmission over selected
`
`transponders.
`
`12.
`
`The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitting means (292, 294, 296)
`
`includes means for transmitting the signal to a plurality of selectable satellites and
`
`the apparatus is further characterized by means for grouping television programs
`
`into separate groups for transmission to different geographical regions.
`
`13.
`
`The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the database means (268)
`
`includes a plurality of databases and wherein the apparatus is
`
`further
`
`characterized by processing means for accessing the databases and processing the
`
`information therein to provide the requisite program control information signal,
`
`the databases including information concerning each scheduled Program, records
`
`representing the source from which each television program was obtained,
`
`optional display services available, available previews of television programs,
`
`program categories for each television program to be transmitted and price
`
`categories for each television program to be transmitted.
`
`14.
`
`The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the database means (268)
`
`includes a plurality of databases, each database composed of multiple related sets
`
`of data, and wherein the apparatus is further characterized by processing means
`
`for accessing the databases and processing the information therein and
`
`management means for determining how to operate the apparatus so that it
`
`provides the requisite control infonnation signal, the databases including:
`
`means for storing information about each destination to which the
`
`apparatus transmits;
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`11.
`
`The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitting means (292, 294, 296)
`
`includes means for transmitting the signal to a plurality of selectable satellite
`
`transponders and wherein the apparatus is further characterized by means for
`
`grouping television programs into separate groups for transmission over selected
`
`transponders.
`
`12.
`
`The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitting means (292, 294, 296)
`
`includes means for transmitting the signal to a plurality of selectable satellites and
`
`the apparatus is further characterized by means for grouping television programs
`
`into separate groups for transmission to different geographical regions.
`
`13.
`
`The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the database means (268)
`
`includes a plurality of databases and wherein the apparatus is
`
`further
`
`characterized by processing means for accessing the databases and processing the
`
`information therein to provide the requisite program control information signal,
`
`the databases including information concerning each scheduled Program, records
`
`representing the source from which each television program was obtained,
`
`optional display services available, available previews of television programs,
`
`program categories for each television program to be transmitted and price
`
`categories for each television program to be transmitted.
`
`14.
`
`The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the database means (268)
`
`includes a plurality of databases, each database composed of multiple related sets
`
`of data, and wherein the apparatus is further characterized by processing means
`
`for accessing the databases and processing the information therein and
`
`management means for determining how to operate the apparatus so that it
`
`provides the requisite control infonnation signal, the databases including:
`
`means for storing information about each destination to which the
`
`apparatus transmits;
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`means for storing information about rights in or ownership in each
`
`program source;
`
`means for storing information about price, promotion and
`
`packaging of each program broadcast;
`
`means for storing information about the storage location of each
`
`internally stored program; and
`
`means for storing information about marketing and customer.
`
`15.
`
`The apparatus of claim 1 modified in that:
`
`the apparatus is further characterized by an internal collection
`
`means, connected to the receiving means (272), for gathering television
`
`programs from internal sources and feeding the television programs from
`
`internal sources to the reception port;
`
`the generation means (264) and the input means (262) are part of
`
`a packaging means for creating program control information and for
`
`packaging television programs using the program control information, the
`
`packaging means including:
`
`the central processing unit (264);
`
`the input means (262) which includes an interface,
`
`connected to the central processing unit (264),
`
`to enable the
`
`program packager to enter program line-up information, wherein
`
`the interface is operably connected to the central processing unit
`
`(264);
`
`a storage means, connected to the central processing unit
`
`(264), for storing the entered program line—up information;
`
`logic means (264), connected to the central processing
`
`unit (264), for arranging the stored program line-up information
`
`and for creating program control information; and
`
`means (264), connected to the logic means (264), for
`
`generating a program control information signal (276) from the
`
`program control information;
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`the combining means (270) combines the set of television
`
`programs identified in the program control information signal (276) with
`
`the program control information signal(276) to create a combined signal,
`
`wherein the combining means includes a delivery control processor (270);
`
`5
`
`the multiplexing means (290) multiplexes the combined signal;
`
`and
`
`signal.
`
`the transmission means (292, 294, 296), transmits the combined
`
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`16.
`
`The apparatus of claim 15, wherein
`
`the packaging means includes means for generating menu
`
`configurations (324); and
`
`the packaging means generates the program control information
`
`using the menu configurations.
`
`15
`
`17.
`
`The apparatus of claim 15 further characterized by:
`
`means (264)
`
`for
`
`receiving unique cable franchise control
`
`information from cable franchises;
`
`means (269, 328), connected to the receiving means (264), for
`
`20
`
`storing the unique cable franchise control information, the storing means
`
`includes the cable franchise configuration database (328); and
`
`wherein the generating means (264), connected to the storing
`
`means (328) comprises means for including the unique cable franchise
`
`control information signal in the generated program control information
`
`25
`
`signal.
`
`18.
`
`A method for delivering televisions programs in a television program
`
`delivery system characterized by the steps of:
`
`(a)
`
`receiving (272) a plurality of television programs in analog or
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`digital format, each having video and audio components;
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`(b)
`
`supplying (262)
`
`information about
`
`the received television
`
`programs, including information on the identities of the received television
`
`programs;
`
`(c)
`
`storing (268) information supplied about the received television
`
`programs for use in the steps of delivering the received television programs;
`
`(d)
`
`creating (400, 316, 318, 342) a plurality of program line—ups that
`
`identify received television programs using the stored information about the
`
`received television programs;
`
`(e)
`
`generating (326, 442) a program control information signal (276)
`
`using one or more of the created program line—ups;
`
`(f)
`
`preparing (332, 334) the program control information signal (276)
`
`and a plurality of the television programs identified in the program control
`
`information signal for transmission; and
`
`(g)
`
`transmitting (292, 294, 296)
`
`the prepared program control
`
`information signal (276) and the prepared television programs for redistribution
`
`to subscriber locations, whereby,
`
`the prepared and transmitted television
`
`programs may be viewed by a subscriber.
`
`19.
`
`The method of claim 18 wherein the preparing step includes a method of
`
`transmitting a plurality of programs to a cable headend (208), each of the
`
`plurality of programs corresponding to one of a plurality of genre categories, the
`
`transmitting including the steps of:
`
`prioritizing (400) each of the programs by assigning to each of the
`
`programs one of a plurality of priority levels, the plurality of priority
`
`levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority
`
`levels;
`
`forming (400) a plurality of signals, each of the signals including
`
`programs corresponding to a single priority level;
`
`appending (320) a header to each of the signals, wherein the
`
`header identifies the priority level for a corresponding signal, thereby
`
`enabling recognition by the cable headend; and
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`transmitting (292, 294, 296) each of the headers and the
`
`corresponding signals to the cable headend (208).
`
`20.
`
`The method of claim 18, wherein the preparing step includes a method of
`
`transmitting programs to a plurality of transponders, the method including the
`
`steps of:
`
`prioritizing (400) each of the programs by assigning to each of the
`
`programs one of a plurality of priority levels, the plurality of priority
`
`levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority
`
`levels;
`
`forming (400) a plurality of signals, each of the signals including
`
`programs corresponding to a single priority level; and
`
`transmitting (292, 294, 296) the plurality of
`
`signals to the
`
`plurality of transponders so that none of the transponders receives more
`
`than one of the signals.
`
`21.
`
`The method of claim 20 further including the step of dynamically
`
`changing bandwidth allocation for at least one of the plurality of categories.
`
`22.
`
`The method of claim 18 wherein the preparing step includes a method of
`
`transmitting a plurality of programs in a first amount of bandwidth for reception
`
`by a first cable headend (208), and in a second amount of bandwidth which is less
`
`than the first amount of bandwidth for a second cable headend (208), the method
`
`including the steps of:
`
`prioritizing (400) each of the programs by assigning to each of the
`
`programs one of a plurality of priority levels, the plurality of priority
`
`levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority
`
`levels;
`
`dividing (320) the first amount of bandwidth so that each program
`
`category receives a portion of the first amount of bandwidth;
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`forming (320) a first allocation of bandwidth by allocating the
`
`first amount of bandwidth to high priority programs in each category;
`
`Continuing the forming (400) a first allocation step with the
`
`progressively lower priority levels until at least one of the following
`conditions occurs:
`
`all programs are allocated;
`
`all of the first amount of bandwidth is allocated;
`
`dividing the second amount of bandwidth so that each program
`
`category receives a portion of the second amount of bandwidth;
`
`forming (3 20) a second allocation of bandwidth by allocating the
`
`second amount of bandwidth to high priority programs in each category;
`
`continuing the forming a second allocation step with the
`
`progressively lower priority levels until at least one of the following
`conditions occurs:
`
`all programs are allocated;
`
`all of the second amount of bandwidth is allocated;
`
`transmitting the first allocation of bandwidth to the first cable
`
`headend (208); and
`
`transmitting the second allocation of bandwidth to the second
`
`cable headend (208).
`
`The method of claim 18 wherein the step of generating a program control
`
`information signal
`
`(276)
`
`for use by viewers using menus of available
`
`programming based on program line—up information includes the steps of:
`
`obtaining and storing (400) program line-up information for each
`
`program, the program line-up information comprising, program name,
`
`program start time, program duration, program category and program
`
`price;
`
`arranging (432) the program line-up information for all programs
`
`in a menu configuration;
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`creating (430) program control information using the program
`
`line-up information;
`
`generating (442) a digital program control information data signal
`
`using the program control information; and
`
`continuously transmitting (292, 294, 296) the digital program
`
`control information data signal simultaneously with the programs.
`
`24.
`
`The method of claim 18 wherein the step of generating a program control
`
`information signal includes generating a program control information signal for
`
`transmission to viewers of a simultaneously transmitted plurality of television
`
`programs so that variable video displays of current and future programming can
`
`be generated and so that the downstream displays of the television programs can
`
`be selected and controlled by the viewers, the method including:
`
`receiving (400) as input data entry, program names, start times
`
`(412), program duration and program category (302, 304, 306, 308, 310,
`
`312) and price (414);
`
`combining (402) the input data with stored marketing data (420,
`
`422) including the frequency with which programs are watched by
`
`viewers and the demographics of viewers;
`
`weighing (424) the data according to algorithms which assign a
`
`weight of importance to each type of data;
`
`generating (430, 432) from the data a program line—up, and
`
`program position on menu formats;
`
`displaying (43 4) the resulting drafi menu for editing;
`
`editing (436, 400) the menu; and
`
`processing (438) the edited menu to generate (442) the program
`
`control information signal for transmission to viewers.
`
`25.
`
`The method of claim 24 wherein digital program control information
`
`signal is transmitted to cable franchises and wherein the method finther includes:
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`means (404) for receiving specific information relating to each
`
`cable franchise that receives the signal; and
`
`means (404) for creating a customized signal (428) for each cable
`
`franchise.
`
`26.
`
`The method of claim 24 wherein the program control information signal
`
`also contains information for identifying virtual channels for interactive services
`
`(304) and data services (312) available to viewers using service information
`
`(503), the method further including the steps of:
`
`collecting service information (503) on the data services (312) available;
`
`inventorying the interactive services (304) to be made available to the
`
`viewer;
`
`assigning a virtual channel for the data services (312) and the interactive
`
`services (304);
`
`determining method of upstream transmissions for interactive services
`
`(304); and
`
`creating a menu for interactive services (304) and data services (312) for
`
`later processing.
`
`27.
`
`The method of claim 18 wherein the step of creating a program line-up
`
`includes a method to assist a program packager to create a transmissible data
`
`information signal which organizes stored information on television programs
`
`available for viewing into program line-ups and generates (442) a program
`
`control information signal (276) from the program line-ups to enable selection of
`
`television programs for viewing by viewers, the method including the steps of:
`
`receiving (400) information on television programs available for viewing;
`
`organizing (430) the information on television programs available for
`
`viewing into program line~up information using stored computer instructions
`
`including a set of computer instructions for utilizing the stored data to optimize
`
`the selection of television programs to be watched by each viewer;
`
`editing (436) the program line-up information;
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`generating (442) the program control information signal (276) using the
`
`program line-up information; and
`
`transmitting (292, 294, 296) the program control information signal (276)
`
`as a digital data signal so that the television programs from which a viewer can
`
`choose will be displayed for selection by a viewer.
`
`28.
`
`The method of claim 27 further including the steps of gathering of
`
`program watched information from viewers, and wherein the organizing step
`further includes:
`
`targeting (402) a television program; and
`
`managing (402) the yield of the programs watched information for the
`
`targeted program so that the targeted program yields higher programs watched
`
`information.
`
`29.
`
`The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of the television programs
`
`is a program service including a time limited series of programming offered for
`
`a defined time each day for a limited number of calendar days and wherein the
`
`program control information signal (276) includes information providing an
`
`identification and description of the service, the starting and stopping dates and
`
`the times each day that the service can be viewed by the viewers.
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`30.
`
`The method of claim 1 8 wherein the step of creating a program line-up
`
`includes a method to create program services containing at least one program and
`
`an interstitial audio/video for transmission, the method, including the following
`
`25
`
`steps:
`
`obtaining (461) one or more programs and interstitial audio/video;
`
`creating (460) events including:
`
`combining (462) one or more programs with one or more
`
`interstitial audio/video so that an event is longer than the one or more
`
`30
`
`combined programs; and
`
`creating (464) an event identification for recalling the event;
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`generating program services including:
`
`integrating one or more events using the event identification so
`
`that there are no disruptions to the programs or interstitial audio/video;
`
`determining (318) calendar days that the program service will be
`
`transmitted;
`
`defining (400) time of day that the program service will be
`
`transmitted; and
`
`transmitting (292, 294, 296) the program service containing the integrated
`
`events on the determined calendar days at the defined time.
`
`31.
`
`The method of claim 30 wherein program services are paid for by
`
`viewers, the method further including the steps of:
`
`creating a mini-pay consisting of one or more program services; and
`
`assigning a price to the mini-pay.
`
`32.
`
`The method of claim 18 characterized in that the step of creating a
`
`program line-up includes a method for creating near video on demand service
`
`using programs wherein the near video on demand service is transmitted from a
`
`central location for distribution to subscribers, including:
`
`designating (400) a program to be available to subscribers more than once
`
`during a day;
`
`evaluating (400) the length of the designated program;
`
`creating (400) program start times using the evaluated length of the
`
`program;
`
`organizing (430) a program line-up with the designated program and the
`
`program start times so that the program appears in the program line-up more than
`
`once and wherein more than one designated programs is in the program line-up;
`and
`
`wherein the step of generating (442) a program control information signal
`
`(276) uses the organized program 1ine—ups.
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`33.
`
`The method of claim 32 wherein programs may be demanded within
`
`fifteen minutes, the step of creating program start times includes:
`
`dividing the evaluated program length into multiple fifteen minutes
`
`segments and one last segment; and
`
`identifying interstitial audio/video to be added to the last segment.
`
`34.
`
`The method of claim 32 wherein a monitor is used, the method further
`
`characterized by:
`
`graphically (438) reorganizing the program line up using a monitor before
`
`generating the program control information signal.
`
`35.
`
`The method of claim 18 characterized in that the step of creating a
`
`program line-up includes a method for creating near video on demand service
`
`using programs wherein the near video on demand service is transmitted from a
`
`central location for distribution to subscribers, including:
`
`designating (400) a program to be available to subscribers more than
`
`once;
`
`evaluating (400) the length of the designated program;
`
`creating (400) program start times using the evaluated length of the
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`program;
`
`organizing (430) a program line—up using the program start times (412)
`
`so that the program appears in the program line-up more than once;
`
`generating (434) a program control
`
`information signal using the
`
`organized program line-up; and
`
`transmitting (292, 294, 296) the program control infonnation signal (276)
`
`and the designated program to subscribers, wherein the designated program is
`
`transmitted to subscribers at the designated programs start times (412).
`
`3 6.
`
`The method of claim 18 further including method for compiling and using
`
`program watched data (420) containing information on programs wherein
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`program watched data is received from one or more remote locations, the method
`
`further characterized by the steps of:
`
`receiving (402) program watched data;
`
`designating (402) a program for analysis;
`
`compiling (402) the received program watched data (420) for the
`
`designated program; and
`
`using the compiled program watched data (420) in the formation of a
`
`program line—up including:
`
`determining (430) whether the compiled data is favorable for
`
`placing the designated program in a particular time slot; and
`
`allotting (430) a time slot for the designated program in the
`
`program line up.
`
`37.
`
`The method of claim 35 wherein menus having menu space are filled
`
`using the program watched data, further characterized by the step of:
`
`allocating menu space for the designated program using the program line-
`
`up.
`
`38.
`
`The method of claim 18 wherein the packaging step includes a method for
`
`allocating a given amount of bandwidth for a plurality of television programs
`
`from the programs received by the receiving means (272), each of the programs
`
`corresponding to one of a plurality of genre categories, the allocation method
`
`including the steps of:
`
`prioritizing (400) each of the programs by assigning to each of the
`
`programs one of a plurality of priority levels, the plurality of priority
`
`levels including a high priority level and progressively lower priority
`
`levels, whereby programs having a higher priority level will be accepted
`
`by systems having a limited bandwidth;
`
`dividing the given amount of bandwidth so that each program
`
`category receives a portion of the given amount of bandwidth;
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`allocating (326) the given amount of bandwidth to high priority
`
`programs in each category; and
`
`continuing the allocating step with the progressively lower
`
`priority levels until at least one of the following conditions occurs:
`
`all programs are allocated,
`
`all of the given amount of bandwidth is allocated.
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`39.
`
`An operations center for use by a program packager to provide a
`
`television program. delivery system, said operations center comprising:
`
`a reception port for receiving television programs;
`
`external collection means for gathering television programs from
`
`external sources and feeding television programs from external sources to
`
`said reception port;
`
`internal collection means, connected to said reception port, for
`
`gathering television programs from internal sources and feeding said
`
`television programs from internal sources to said reception port;
`
`a converter for converting any of said television programs that are
`
`in non-digital format to digital format;
`
`packaging means for creating program control information and for
`
`packaging said digital
`
`tori-rizatt television programs using said program
`
`control information, said packaging means comprising:
`
`a central processing unit;
`
`an interface. connected to the central processing unit,
`
`to
`
`enable a program packager to enter program line-up information,
`
`wherein said interface is operably connected to said central
`
`processing unit;
`
`storage means, connected to the central processing unit. tor
`
`storing said entered program line-up infomiation;
`
`logic means. connected to the central processing unit, For
`
`arranging said stored program line-up information and for creating
`
`the program control information; and
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`lOl
`
`means, connected to the logic means,
`
`for generating a
`
`digital program control
`
`information signal
`
`from the program
`
`control information;
`
`combining means for creating a combined signal, said
`
`combined signal comprising the packaged digital format programs
`
`and the digital program control information signal; and
`
`transmission means, operubly connected to said packaging
`
`means, for transmitting said combined signal.
`
`10
`
`l5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40.
`
`The operations center of claim 3‘), wherein
`
`said packaging means comprises means for generating menu
`
`configurations; and
`
`said packaging means generates said program control information
`
`using said menu configurations,
`
`41.
`
`The operations center of claim 39. said operations center further
`
`comprising:
`
`means for receiving unique cable franchise control
`
`information
`
`from cable franchises;
`
`means, connected to the receiving means. for storing said unique
`
`cable franchise control information; and
`
`wherein said generating means is connected to the storing means
`
`and comprises means for including said unique cable franchise control
`
`information in said generated digital program control information signal.
`
`42.
`
`A method for remotely generating a program control information
`
`signal for use by viewers using menus of available programming based on
`
`program line-up information. said method comprising the steps of:
`
`obtaining and storing program line-up information for programs,
`
`the program line-up information comprising, program name, program start
`
`time, program duration, program category and program price;
`
`Page 001100
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`CA 02151458 2003-03-07
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`102
`
`arranging said program line—up information for said programs in a
`
`menu configuration;
`
`creating program control information using said program line-up
`
`information;
`
`generating a digital program control information data signal using
`
`said program control information: and
`
`continuously transmitting said digital program control information
`
`data signal siinultaneously with said programs.
`
`10
`
`43.
`
`A method of generating a digital program control data information
`
`signal for transmission to viewers receiving a simultaneously transmitted
`
`plurality of television programs so that variable video displays of current
`
`and future programming can be generated and so that the downstream
`
`displays of the television programs can be selected and controlled by the
`
`viewers, the method uses stored marketing data, algorithms, and menus,
`
`the method comprising;
`
`receiving input data.
`
`including program names,
`
`start
`
`times,
`
`program duration or program category and price;
`
`combining the
`
`input data with the
`
`stored marketing data
`
`20
`
`comprising the frequency with which programs are watched by viewers
`
`and the demographics of viewers;
`
`weighing the combined data according to algorithms which assign
`
`a weight of importance to each type of data;
`
`generating from the weighted data a program linc—up and program
`
`positions on menu formats resulting in a draft menu;
`
`displaying the resulting draft menu for editing;
`
`editing the draft menu; and
`
`processing the edited menu to generate the digital program control
`
`data information signal for transmission to viewers.
`
`30
`
`Page 001101
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`103
`
`44.
`
`The method of claim 43 wherein the digital program control data
`
`information signal
`
`is transmitted to cable franchises and wherein the
`
`method further comprises:
`
`receiving specific inforination relating to each cable franchise that
`
`receives the signal; and
`
`creating a custorni'/ed signal for each cable franchise.
`
`45.
`
`The method of claim 43 wherein the digital program control data
`
`information signal also contains
`
`information for
`
`identifying virtual
`
`10
`
`Channels for interactive services and data services available to viewers
`
`using service information. the method further comprising:
`
`collecting service information on the data services available;
`
`inventorying the interactive services to be made available to the
`
`viewer:
`
`15
`
`assigning a virtual channel for the data services and the interactive
`
`services;
`
`determining method of upstream transmissions
`
`for
`
`interactive
`
`services; and
`
`creating a menu for interactive services and data services for later
`
`20
`
`processing.
`
`46.
`
`A method to assist a program packager to create a transmissible
`
`data information signal which organizes stored information on television
`
`programs available for viewing into program line-ups and generates a
`
`program control information signal from the program line—ups to enable
`
`selection of television programs for viewing by viewers,
`
`the method
`
`comprising:
`
`receiving information. on television programs
`
`available
`
`for
`
`viewing;
`
`organizing the information on television programs available for
`
`viewing into program line—up
`
`information
`
`using stored computer
`
`instructions including a :-set of computer instructions for utilizing stored
`
`B) lJ1
`
`Lu CD
`
`Page 001102
`
`
`
`CA 02151458 2003-03-0'7
`
`l04
`
`data to optimize the selection of television programs to be watched by
`
`each viewer;
`
`editing the program line—up information;
`
`generating the program control
`
`information signal using the
`
`program line-up information; and
`
`transmitting the program control
`
`information signal as a digital
`
`data signal so that the television programs from which ii viewer can
`
`choose will be displayed for selection by :1 viewer.
`
`47.
`
`The method of claim 46 further comprising gathering of program
`
`watched information from viewers, and wherein the organizing step
`
`further comprises:
`
`targeting a television program; and
`
`managing the yield of the programs watched information for the
`
`targeted program so that the targeted program yields higher programs
`
`watched information.
`
`48.
`
`The method of claim 40 wherein at
`
`least one of the television
`
`programs is a program service comprising a time limited series of
`
`programming offered for a defined time each day for a limited number of
`
`calendar days and wherein the program control
`
`information signal
`
`comprises information providing an identification and description of the
`
`service, the starting and stopping dates and the times each day that the
`
`service can be viewed by the viewers.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`49.
`
`A method to create program services containing at
`
`least one
`
`program and an interstitial audio/video for transmission, comprising:
`
`obtaining one or more programs and interstitial audio/video:
`
`creating events comprising:
`
`30
`
`combining one or more programs with one or more
`
`interstitial audio/video so that an event is longer than the one or
`
`more combined programs; and
`
`Page 001103
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`105
`
`creating an event identification for recalling the event;
`
`generating program services comprising:
`
`integrating one or more events using the event
`
`identification so that
`
`there are no disruptions to the
`
`programs or interstitial audio/video;
`
`determining calendar days that the program services
`
`will be transmitted:
`
`defining time of day that
`
`the program
`
`services will be transmitted; and
`
`transmitting the program services containing
`
`the integrated events on the determined calendar
`
`days at the defined time.
`
`50.
`
`The method of claim 49 wherein program services are paid for by
`
`viewers, the method further comprising:
`
`creating a mini—pay consisting of one or more program services;
`
`and
`
`assigning a price to the mini—payt
`
`51.
`
`A method for generating a program control information signal for
`
`near video on demand service using programs wherein the near Video on
`
`demand service is transmitted from a central location for distribution to
`
`subscribers, comprising:
`
`designating a program to be available to subscribers more than
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`R) Ln
`
`once during a day;
`
`evaluating the length of the designated program;
`
`creating program start times using, the evaluated length of the
`
`program;
`
`organizing a program line—up with the designated program and the
`
`30
`
`program start times so that the program appears in the program line—up
`
`more than once and wherein more than one designated program is in the
`
`program line—up;
`
`Page 001104
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`
`CA 02151458 2003-03-07
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`106
`
`generating the program control
`
`information signal using the
`
`organized program line up for transmission.
`
`52.
`
`The method of claim 51 wherein designated programs may be
`
`demanded within fifteen minutes. the step of creating program start times
`
`comprises:
`
`dividing the evaluated program length into multiple fifteen
`
`minutes segments and one last segment; and
`
`identifying interstitial audio/video to be added to the last segment.
`
`53.
`
`The method of claim 5| wherein a monitor
`
`is used further
`
`comprising:
`
`graphically reorgzitnizing the program line up using a monitor
`
`before generating the program control information signal.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`54.
`
`A method for creating near video on demand service using
`
`programs wherein the near video on demand service is transmitted from a
`
`central location for distribution to subscribers, comprising the steps of:
`
`designating a program to be available to subscribers more than
`
`20
`
`once;
`
`evaluating the length ol‘ the designated program;
`
`creating program start
`
`times using the evaluated length of the
`
`program;
`
`organizing a program line—up using the program start times so that
`
`the program appears in the program line-up more than once;
`
`generating a program control
`
`information signal using the
`
`organized program line-up;
`
`transmitting the program control
`
`information signal and the
`
`designated program to subscribers. wherein the designated program is
`
`transmitted to subscribers at the designated program's start times.
`
`B) Ur
`
`30
`
`Page 001105
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`107
`
`55.
`
`A method for compiling and using program watched data
`
`containing information on programs wherein the program watched data is
`
`received from one or more remote locations. comprising the steps of:
`
`receiving the program watched data;
`
`designating a program for analysis;
`
`Compiling the received program watched data for the designated
`
`program; and
`
`using the compiled program watched data in the formation of a
`
`program line—up comprising:
`
`determining whether the compiled data is f
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