Ufllted’ States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`l|||l|||lI||||Ill|||l|I||I||||lI||||||||||I||||I||||||||||||||l||||||||l||l
`USO0543254-2A
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,432,542
`
` .
`
`Thibadeau et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 11, 1995
`
`Assistant Examiner——Chris Grant
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Eckert Seamans Cherin &
`Mano“
`ABSTRACI‘
`[57]
`Location specific messages or programming are gener-
`ally broadcast and selectively filtered by user terminals
`which have encoded one or more arbitrary locations of
`interest. The area surrounding a user, a remote location,
`a route to be travelled or the like may be selected for
`receipt of local warnings, local commercial messages
`and the like. Transmitted messages contain information
`targeted to geographical groups of users, with location
`designation coding accompanying location-specific
`messages. A geographic location selection code is en-
`tered into a data processor coupled to the user’s re-
`ceiver to define the user’s selected location(s) of inter-
`est. The processor receives the information segment and
`its desi nation code and compares the desi
`ated loca-
`.
`g
`gn
`0
`tion to the selected one. Segments where the designated
`.
`and selected points or areas overlap are processed, e.g.,
`be"-lg dlsplayed" stored 91- use.d to tngger a
`The user’s selection code is variable and plural locations
`can be used and prioritized. Preferably, regions are
`encoded by their boundaries, e.g., in longitude, latitude,
`altitude or the like, and in absolute or relative coordi-
`nates, and shorthand designations can refer to stored
`definitions of areas. Filtering segments based on mes-
`sage content, prioritizing the messages and additional
`features can be included. The system is especially useful
`for distributing local commercial messages, hazard
`warnings or the like‘
`
`[75]
`
`[54] TELEVISION RECEIVER LOCATION
`IDENTIFICATION
`Inventors: Robert Tliihadeau; Joseph M.
`Newcomer; David Touretzky, all of
`Pmsburgh’ Pa‘
`[73] Assignee: Television Computer, Inc.,
`Pittsburgh, Pa.
`
`_
`[21] Appl‘ No" 93.0641
`[22] Filed:
`Aug. 31, 1992
`
`
`
`455/4 2
`348/9 8 6 460 461
`[58] Field of Search
`_
`_
`348/465, 473, 478, 1, 2,8I:0:g;Z116>816’ :51’
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`56
`
`......................
`""358/1:2
`‘'_‘" 358/86
`......U 348/6
`348/4-,3
`______,_ 455/5
`__ 353/35
`.. 380/49
`343/1
`-353/142
`348/9
`348/9
`
`
`
`Belcher CI
`C‘ 3]‘
`5/1984 Love“ I_D_.
`4:45O:477
`7/1986 Thomas
`4,600,921
`7/1986 Freeman _____‘
`4,602,279
`4,577,536 6/1937 Hustig et a1_
`4,329,372 5/1939 Mccallcy 3; a1_ ,,
`4,868,866 9/1989 Williams, Jr. ..... ..
`5,036,537 7/1991 -Ieffers ------------«
`1070-404 12/1991 Bullock Ct 31-
`5,155,591 10/1992 Wachob ..............
`5,260,778 ll/1993 Kauffman et al.
`..
`
`Primary Examz'ner——James J. Groody
`
`44 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`LOCATION
`DESIGNATION
`
`
`
`TRANSMITTER
`
`(MESSAGES)
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVER
`
`PROCESSOR
`(COMPARE)
`
`PROCESS
`MESSAGES
`OF INTEREST MEMORY
`(LOCATION
`
`SELECTION)
`
`
`
`
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1995
`
`511111 1 11 1
`
`5,432,542
`
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`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`5,432,542
`
`320,100
`
`204
`
`55o,Ioo
`
`
`
`320,50
`
`550,50
`
`780,50
`
`
`
`-70:25
`
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`
`+390, ‘ 25
`
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`
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`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`5,432,542
`
`V o
`
`r-
`
`mar.
`
`mom
`
`¢om
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:23)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`5,432,542
`
`502
`
`
`
`INTERSECTION
`
`RECEIVE
`MESSAGE
`
`504
`
`COMPUTE
`REGION
`
`PROCESS
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`DESIGNATE
`"OF INTEREST"
`
`
`
` DESIGNATE
`
`"NOT or INTEREST"
`
`FIG.5
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:24)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004' Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`5,432,542
`
`DESIGNATION
`
` LOCNHON
`
`TRANSMITTER
`
`(MESSAGES)
`
`RECEIVER
`
`‘
`
`I
`
`PROCESSOR ;
`(COMPARE)
`I
`
`
`
`
`
`MEMORY
`(LOCATION
`SELECTION)
`
`
`
`PROCESS
`MESSAGES
`OF INTEREST
`
`F|G.6
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:25)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`July 11, 1995
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`5,432,542
`
`
`
`
`
`INPUT
`LOCATION
`SELECTION
`
`
`
` RECEIVE
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`COMPARE
`SELECTION
`
`AND
`
`DESIGNATION
`
`
`
`ENCODE
`AND INSERT
`
`LOCATION
`DESIGNATIONS
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT
`MESSAGES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PROCESS
`MESSAGE
`
`FIG.7
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:26)
`OpenTV Exhibit1004 Page7
`
`

`
`1
`
`TELEVISION RECEIVER LOCATION
`IDENTIFICATION
`
`5,432,542
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the invention
`This invention relates to encoding an identification of
`a receiving unit associated with a television, radio or
`other receiver, or terminal coupled to an information
`distribution network, to enable the receiver or terminal
`to select desired data from a generally broadcast stream
`of information and/or programming. This form of re-
`ceiver or terminal may include a data processor incor-
`porated in a receiver for showing audio and/or video
`information, or may be a separate unit, the typical appli-
`cation being a separate set top interface unit which is
`coupled between the source of a television broadcast
`signal (e.g., via cable) and a television for displaying the
`video and audio information on a selected channel.
`2. Prior Art
`In the past, a set-top unit was rendered distinct from
`other set-top units coupled to a distribution network, if
`it was distinct at all, by a unique serial number (“unique
`ID”), such as discussed for example in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,070,404—Bullock et al, by assignment of a unique
`frequency or other dedicated channel means, as dis-
`cussed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,477—Lovett,
`or by another aspect which allows the set-top unit to
`process information directed to it and to ignore infor-
`mation directed to other set-top units on the distribution
`network. Alternatively, the set-top unit could be pro-
`vided with decryption means which was lacking in
`other units, thereby distinguishing at least a subset of
`set-top units such as subscribers to a premium cable
`channel or the like. This uniqueness of the set-top unit
`allowed for services such as pay-for-play, subscription
`services, and digital
`information subscriptions to be
`directed by unique ID, frequency, and the like to the
`paying subscribers, while other subscribers who de-
`clined such services could remain coupled to the net-
`work but could not process the respective signal.
`However, if services need to distributed according to
`a class of subscribers other than those addressed by their
`unique identifiers, channels or hardware,
`it
`is not
`readily possible to distinguish among the set-top units
`such that some can decode the broadcast and others
`ignore it. For example, there is no way to use pre-
`ordained distinctions of this type as a means to direct
`broadcast messages to classes of subscribers based on
`selected locations, unless the locations are cross refer-
`enced to the unique identifier or the like, which is cum-
`bersome. For information services, video messages and
`various other uses, it would be desirable to allow a user
`of a set-top unit to filter information from the service
`based upon proximity of the user to the service, or based
`on the user’s selection of a location which may be or
`may include an area remote from the unit, which other-
`wise is of interest to the user. Examples of other loca-
`tions of interest could include, for example, a place of
`business, a travel destination or route, the location of a
`loved one, or other location.
`The present invention provides a means for identify-
`ing a television receiver or the like based on location,
`and also for encoding other location information,
`whereby generally broadcast messages or programming
`can be filtered and processed by only the users having
`an interest in the information due to proximity. In this
`respect, the encoding of information applies both to
`
`5
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`2
`location specific digital information contained in the
`broadcast, and location selection information which is
`preferably input to the system by the user, including but
`not limited to the location of the receiver itself.
`Transmission of digital
`information over existing
`carriers as a supplement to conventional broadcasting
`has been available for many years. Examples are such
`systems as TeleText and closed captioning. These sys-
`tems all use custom decoders to make a limited amount
`of specific information available to users having a cus-
`tom decoder. The information is broadcast to all receiv-
`ers, but only the subscribers can use it. Typically the
`amount of data transmitted is limited by the fact that the
`digital information is embedded in a single channel with
`the general broadcast. For example, TeleText and
`closed captioning are typically encoded during the ver-
`tical retrace period of the video signal. A single line of
`text characters, or at most a screen of text characters,
`are stored and displayed.
`Alternative methods for limiting access to informa-
`tion and/or the ability to process the information in-
`clude the use of entitlement messages (e.g., U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,868,866—Williams), unique message identifica-
`tion (U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,372-McCalley), frequency
`multiplexing (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,677,686—Hustig and
`4,450,477-Lovett), and encryption (U.S. Pat. No.
`4,323,92l—Guillou). Although these devices permit
`selection of a subset of users who can use a generally
`broadcast message, their application to filtering infor-
`mation based upon arbitrary locations or ranges of loca-
`tions are limited due to the need to define locations and
`to convert such information into the very different
`methods by which the users are rendered distinct from
`one another.
`
`Limitations of the prior art techniques for distinguish-
`ing users with respect to selected locations or proximi-
`ties are inherent in the type of distinguishing techniques
`used. For example, when entitlement messages are used,
`an entitlement message for every receiver must be trans-
`mitted at least once before the message, thus requiring
`considerable bandwidth to enable receipt of public
`safety and information broadcasts which are to be sent
`to a large group of users. Unique message identification
`requires transmission of multiple copies of the same
`information, each copy possessing a unique ID or ad-
`dressing code for decoding by one user. Frequency
`multiplexing requires modulation and broadcast of in-
`formation on multiple channel frequencies, which is
`useful for distinguishing relatively large groups but
`cannot be applied practically to distinguish users down
`to useful differences in location, even assuming that
`local multiplexing and frequency conversion equipment
`is provided to accomplish the encoding. Encryption
`also requires either broadcasting multiple copies of the
`same information encrypted with the various keys pos-
`sessed by the receivers, or addressed broadcasting of
`new encryption keys to individual users every time a
`different subset of users is to be selected. Moreover,
`known location distinctions are limited to the location
`of the receiver and are inapplicable to arbitrary ranges
`of proximity, selection via a plurality of geographic
`locations and/or areas of interest, and the like, which
`would enable generally broadcast information to be
`filtered for geographically pertinent information.
`It is known to attempt to activate receivers in the
`event of an emergency broadcast (e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
`3,993,955—Belcher). However, such systems provide
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:27)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 8
`
`

`
`3
`no selectivity based upon the location of the receiver,
`which is activated in a general broadcast mode. It is also
`known to attempt to limit processing of information to
`particular subscribers having a certain zip code or state
`code (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,404-——Bullock et al).
`However, these invariable geographic definitions lack
`the versatility of arbitrarily defined areas, and the speci-
`ficity of more localized location identifications that
`could render an information distribution system useful
`for local commercial offers and the like.
`Providing for selective broadcast using any of the
`methods of frequency multiplexing, encryption, mes-
`sage identification and the like, requires that the broad-
`caster maintain a catalog of all of the relevant receiver
`frequencies, encryption codes, or unique IDs. This cata-
`log is limited to the location of the receiver. An inaccu-
`rate catalog can result in customer dissatisfaction with
`respect to general services at a minimum. When public
`safety information is broadcast, omission of customers
`can result in personal injury, property loss, or even
`fatalities. In addition to social responsibility issues, the
`broadcaster who attempts to define a subset of specific
`users at risk may provide a false sense of security. On
`the other hand, a set-top unit that can determine its own
`location (by a variety of methods) or can respond to a
`designation of arbitrary locations, immediately and ac-
`curately receives the geographically targeted informa-
`tion which the user requires.
`According to the present invention, a processor is
`coupled between a receiver operable to display, record
`or play back information, and monitors digital inforrna—
`tion encoding location identifiers in a general broadcast
`signal. This arrangement allows the generally broadcast
`information to be filtered for locations in a variety of
`ways, and these ways preferably are embodied in appli-
`cations routines to which users have access. There is
`currently no system capable of selectively providing
`user services based on user definable geographic loca-
`tions in the manner discussed herein.
`
`5
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the invention to enable identification
`of receivers to selectively process generally broadcast
`data or programming, by means of encoding arbitrary
`position information respecting one or both of the con-
`tent of the generally broadcast information and the area
`of interest of a user of the receiver. In this context, a
`“receiver” is construed to include a variety of tuner-
`equipped devices such as television receivers, VCRs,
`cable interface boxes and the like, whereby a signal is
`selected.
`
`According to a preferred embodiment, a set-top re-
`ceiver such as a cable interface device or the like in-
`cludes a processor, or at least a comparator, which is
`encoded at least with its own geographic location, e.g.,
`via latitude,
`longitude, and preferably altitude. The
`receiver is coupled to an input means enabling the loca-
`tion to be changed and stored in a memory coupled
`thereto. The input means can include switch means
`operable by the user. This information can be rendered
`accurate to a few meters. The position of the receiver,
`and presumably the user thereof, is used by the associ-
`ated digital
`information processor to determine the
`relevance of generally broadcast information which it
`receives. This information preferably includes digital
`information and may include, for example, offers of
`commercial services that are location specific, public or
`legal notices targeted to a specific area, public safety
`
`45
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`5,432,542
`
`4
`and emergency information notices, and many other
`forms of information which the end user may wish to
`examine. Similar information which applies to locations
`in which the user is not interested can be ignored by the
`processor.
`To a large extent, position information is applied to a
`certain area by encoding and/or calculating X and Y
`borderlines in one or more polygons defining an area of
`interest. According to the invention, normal spatial
`coordinates such as latitude and longitude are prefera-
`bly extended to include altitude. This is of particular
`interest for concerns such as emergency weather infor-
`mation because flood warnings, icing conditions and
`rain/snow boundaries are often related to altitude. For
`example, a flood warning may be of grave importance
`to a user at a low elevation adjacent to a river or other
`watercourse, but may be of less importance to someone
`whose latitude/longitude coordinates are even closer to
`the watercourse, but whose elevation precludes any
`danger under the circumstances.
`The geographic position and altitude of the area (or
`volume) of interest can be defined more or less specifi-
`cally, depending on the information which is being
`sifted by the data processor. For many types of mes-
`sages, a general area designation may suffice. Prefera-
`bly, however, the geographic definition can be made
`quite specific, which renders the invention useful for
`information which may apply for a limited area such as
`a neighborhood, a city block, or even a particular resi-
`dence. Furthermore, the user is not limited to an area of
`interest definition which includes the location of the
`receiver, and additionally can select information at a
`range of distances from the receiver, at a location re-
`mote from the receiver, along a route between arbitrary
`points, and the like.
`The invention overcomes problems with known re-
`ceiver selection or access controlling systems to enable
`a wide variety of uses of broadcast information which is
`most usefully interpreted by its geographical relevance
`to the subscriber. It is possible according to the inven-
`tion to selectively target geographical areas with mes-
`sages relevant to that area without requiring complex
`time or frequency multiplexing. The end users have
`control of the geographic definition and can arrange to
`see, store or otherwise process only messages relevant
`to selected geographic areas without having to process
`messages which are outside their area of interest. Alter-
`natively, the user can choose to process all the mes-
`sages. The processor can be arranged to control the
`receiver, to monitor general broadcast information in
`the background, and then to activate the receiver,
`switch channels, store information, generate an alarm,
`or otherwise to alert the user to messages of interest
`which may appear in the generally broadcast informa-
`tion.
`It is an object of the invention to transmit consider-
`able information with a minimum usage of broadcast
`bandwidth because additional bandwidth is not required
`to separate messages geographically or to address spe-
`cific users, for example by unique or semi-unique encod-
`ing (e.g., political jurisdiction or subdivision, address,
`telephone number, zip code, receiver serial number)
`which must be cross referenced to stored data to deter-
`mine longitude,
`latitude and/or altitude information.
`Nevertheless, such definitions of areas can be included,
`preferably as alternatives for designating an area of
`interest.
`
`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:28)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 9
`
`

`
`5,432,542
`
`5
`It is possible to transmit considerable information
`without use of secondary multiplexing equipment (for
`example as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,477—Lovett) to keep
`the information separated. A plurality of geographic
`areas of interest, each being arbitrarily selected by the
`user, can be designated. The user of the receiver, rather
`than only the broadcaster, has the ability to define
`which geographic area or areas are of interest to the
`user.
`
`Inasmuch as geographic information is the basis of 10
`selection, broadcasts which are usefully interpreted by
`geographic location of the receiver need only be broad-
`cast with their geographic information attached, rather
`than having to broadcast separately by unique ID or
`entitlement code to individual receivers known to be
`located in a given area, or to have to broadcast the same
`information on a plurality of frequencies simulta-
`neously, or to have to broadcast uniformly to all receiv-
`ers in a general broadcast.
`The set-top unit of the invention can preferably moni-
`tor multiple locations for broadcasts, enabling subscrib-
`ers to monitor information not only for their home, but
`a plurality of alternate locations, including such loca-
`tions as their workplace, locations of other family mem-
`bers (for example, to monitor emergency weather infor-
`mation for an elderly family member), routes to be
`traversed, or simply to monitor breaking news. The set
`top unit preferably supports multiple regions simulta-
`neously, or a single location, and can respond to differ-
`ent input messages with different priorities as a function
`of user selections.
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`Transmission of information to a set-top unit can be
`by any broadcast method. Presently available methods
`include, for example, cable, radio broadcast, fiber-optic
`or other information transmission channels, digital and
`analog signals, or hybrids of both, private carriers and
`common carriers, and other broadcast methods. The
`invention is applicable to U.S. television standards (e.g.,
`NTSC), European or other national or international
`television standards (e.g., PAL or SECAM), emerging
`television standards
`including high-definition TV
`(HDTV) and digital TV, information media which are
`not directly coupled to television standards such as
`computer information networks and displays, and to
`non-visual transmissions such as audio-only channels.
`Encoded programming as well as accompanying
`digital information can be broadcast wholly or partly on
`dedicated digital charmels, transmitted during the verti-
`cal blanking interval of a composite video signal as
`currently used for TeleText or closed captioning, or
`otherwise encoded on a subcarrier of a video or audio
`channel or on another channel operating simulta-
`neously.
`the geo-
`According to a preferred arrangement,
`graphic filtering of digital data is accomplished by data
`transmitted over ordinary cable television distribution
`lines, using the existing cable industry infrastructure.
`At least the following classes of services are facili-
`tated using the location identification features of the
`invention, and additional classes of information should
`be apparent from this exemplary list:
`Public safety services such as hazardous weather
`alerts, hazardous condition alerts (e.g., chemical
`spills), and crisis information distribution;
`Public information services such as employment ser-
`vices, consumer information services,
`legislative
`information services, traffic and transit information
`services, and health information services;
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`Commercial information services such as classified
`advertising, product information and targeted mar-
`keting services;
`Personal information services such as “want ads” (as
`exemplified by “situations wanted”,
`“services
`available”,
`“services needed”,
`“wants-to-sell”,
`“wants-to-buy”, “missing pets”, and similar uses);
`Geographically specific information services, such as
`neighborhood concern groups, regional political
`groups, and the like.
`information which is
`According to the invention,
`broadcast contains location information. This location
`information is used to filter out messages whose rele-
`vance is determined, at the option of the end user, to be
`of no interest. Alternatively or in addition, the informa-
`tion can be prioritized based upon distance, and dis-
`played, stored or otherwise processed preferentially as a
`function of priority. One or both of the user and the
`broadcaster specifies one or more geographic regions
`by defining polygons and/or points. A data processor
`associated with the set top unit can define polygons
`around point, distances from points and the like to auto-
`mate the geographic definitions and priorities. The in-
`tersection of polygons or polygons and points, as deter-
`mined by the data processor, determines whether par-
`ticular information is selected or ignored. This allows
`the user to make decisions based upon considerations of
`proximity, and appropriately and usefully to select in-
`formation from a generally broadcast program or data
`stream. This information normally includes a great deal
`of information which is of no interest to the user, inter-
`spersed with information which is of interest, and by use
`of the data processor and the encoding procedure dis-
`cussed herein, useful and desired data is readily and
`automatically separated from the chaff.
`The invention provides a programmable receiver
`system to use location information embedded in a gen-
`eral broadcast or transmitted in connection with a gen-
`eral broadcast. By encoding and comparing locations
`and regions of interest, i.e., including not only points of
`interest but also linear routes, plural points and regions
`surrounding the points,
`the processor filters the re-
`ceived information to provide the end user with only
`the information of interest based on the user’s selection
`of geographic constraints.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`There are shown in the drawings certain exemplary
`embodiments of the invention as presently preferred. It
`should be understood that these embodiments are exam-
`ples only, and are subject to variations in accordance
`with the scope of the invention defined by the appended
`claims. In the drawings,
`FIG. 1 is a graphic illustration showing a variety of
`techniques in which an area of interest is defined ac-
`cording to the invention, surrounding one or more des-
`ignated geographic points.
`FIG. 2 is a graphic illustration of an alternative em-
`bodiment relying on absolute and relative coordinates.
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of containment tests under-
`taken by the processor according to the invention, for
`determining the intersection or non-intersection of
`points and/or regions.
`FIG. 4 is a graphic illustration of an alternative em-
`bodiment comprising more than two dimensions,
`in
`particular illustrating altitude as a further dimension
`used to define intersecting points and/or volumes.
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`(cid:50)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:55)(cid:57)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)
`OpenTV Exhibit 1004 Page 10
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`

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`7
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustration showing the pro-
`cessing of data according to the invention.
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the transmitter,
`means for inserting, receiver, memory,
`input means,
`comparing means and processing means of the inven-
`tion.
`
`FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing the steps of trans-
`mitting, encoding, receiving, comparing and processing
`of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Any means of transmitting data along a channel may
`constitute an acceptable delivery mechanism for infor-
`mation. This includes, for example, fiber optic cable,
`telephony or other point-to-point transmission, coaxial,
`twisted—pair, or other cabling point-to-point or broad-
`cast, microwave, UHF, or direct satellite reception.
`Existing LAN and WAN transmission, including con-
`cepts such as using unused network capacity to broad-
`cast such data in the background over any existing
`network, also apply. While all of these are applicable to
`the invention, a particularly advantageous application is
`by use of existing cable TV and so called “wireless
`cable” TV. These systems are in place, provide multi-
`channel distribution capability, and sufficient band-
`width to transmit a great deal of information in video,
`audio and digital form.
`5
`According to a currently preferred method, geo-
`graphic information is encoded to define a geometric
`property, which may have two or more dimensions,
`generally designated herein as a “region”. At a mini-
`mum, the region has no extension in any dimension,
`being a single point. This point designation can be em-
`ployed to designate, for example, the location of a pro-
`vider of goods or services in a commercial (“classified
`ad”) broadcast. Other regions may be represented by a
`simple closed geometric shape (such as a point and a
`radius to define a circular region, such as a region in
`which a merchant may provide free delivery services),
`or an arbitrary region comprised of the union of a set of
`shapes, such as rectangles, circles, trapezoids, or other
`polygons, or combinations such as chords or segments
`thereof.
`
`At least some region information is encoded both by
`the transmitter of information and by the receiver itself.
`The transmitted geographic information can be pro-
`vided in a header preceding a data packet or other unit
`of transmission,
`in a catalog of transmission units to
`follow, in a second channel transmitted at substantially
`the same time as the information to which it refers or at
`another location, time or representation, or provided
`encoded in some other transmission.
`
`When the geographic information of the message is a
`single point or a small region, its relevance is deter-
`mined by whether or not its geometric intersection with
`designated regions of interest of the receiver is a non-
`empty region. When the geographic information of the
`message is a large region (such as a section of a city), its
`relevance may be determined by whether or not the
`point representing the set-top location is contained in
`the region. Preferably, both techniques are made avail-
`able, such that the transmitting party and the user can
`alternatively define points and areas by grid positions or
`by an applicable artificial coding such as a postal code
`(e.g., zip code), political jurisdiction (e.g., city, county,
`state), telephone exchange, street, block, subdivision or
`similar informal geographic indicator, or the like. Typi-
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`cally, the artificial coding consumes fewer bits than a
`precise geographical definition, although it may be
`longer, yet useful for convenience. These alternatives
`can be cross referenced in the set-top data processor or
`in the transmission, such that the artificial encoding is
`convertible into a polygon or set of polygons which will
`be tested for intersection with the location information
`contained in the other of the data processor and the
`transmission.
`
`When a message has a non-empty intersection with a
`region of interest, the message is said to be of “interest”.
`One can refer to the set top unit as “noticing” the mes-
`sages of interest if it chooses to react topthem or “ignor-
`ing” messages which are not of interest. Messages
`which are not of interest preferably are not processed
`beyond the extent required to determine their interest,
`although it is also possible that such messages simply
`could be processed differently than those of interest, for
`example stored but not acted upon.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a two dimensional coordinate sys-
`tem based on latitude and longitude. A three dimension
`or other multi-dimensional application of these tech-
`niques is also possible, i.e., using altitude as a further
`limiter, in which case the region is actually a volume. In
`FIG. 1, the circle 102 is the locus of points equidistant
`from a point in two of the dimensions, for example the
`location of the set top unit 104 in an X-Y coo