Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 2 of 61 PageID #: 1441
`
`United States Patent [19J
`Harvey et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,694,490
`Sep. 15, 1987
`
`[76]
`
`[54] SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND
`METHODS
`Inventors: John C. Harvey, 333 E. 57th St., New
`York, N.Y. 10022; James W.
`Cuddihy, 523 E. 14th St., New York,
`N.Y. 10009
`[21] Appl. No.: 317,510
`[22] Filed:
`Nov. 3, 1981
`[51]
`Int. Cl.4 .......................... H04K 9/00; H04N 7/08
`[52] U.S. Cl •.......................................... 380/20; 380/9;
`380/10; 380/54; 358/142; 358/143
`[58] Field of Search ................... 455/4, 26, 30, 32-34,
`455/37, 70; 358/147, 142, 146, 143, 183, 86,
`122; 364/521
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,668,307 6/1972 Face et al. ........................... 358/114
`3,684,823 8/1972 McVoy ................................. 455/70
`3,833,757 9/1974 Kirk, Jr. et al. ........................ 455/4
`3,845,391 10/1974 Crosby .................................. 455/26
`3,891,792 6/1975 Kimura ............................... 358/142
`3,987,398 10/1976 Fung ....................................... 455/4
`4,138,726 2/1979 Girau1t et al. ....................... 364/521
`4,218,698 8/1980 Bart et al. ........................... 358/183
`4,264,925 4/1981 Freeman eta!. .................... 358/143
`4,310,854 1/1982 Baer .................................... 358/143
`4,337,480 1/1982 Bourassin et al. .................. 358/183
`4,347,532 8/1982 Korver ................................ 358/183
`4,381,522 4/1983 Lambert .................................. 455/4
`Primary Examiner-Salvatore Cangialosi
`
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Darby & Darby
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`Apparatus and methods for automatically controlling
`programming transmissions and presentations on televi(cid:173)
`sion and radio equipment and monitoring the program(cid:173)
`ming transmitted and presented. ("Programming" here
`means everything transmitted over television or radio
`intended for communication of entertainment or to
`instruct or inform.) The Apparatus can handle pro(cid:173)
`gramming transmitted either over-the-air (hereinafter,
`"broadcast") or over hard-wire (hereinafter, "ca(cid:173)
`blecast"). The apparatus receive transmissions from as
`many as one hundred or more channels that are sequen(cid:173)
`tially scanned by one or more scanners/switches that
`transfer the transmissions to one or more receiver/de(cid:173)
`coders that identify signals in the programming and
`separate the signals from the programming transmis(cid:173)
`sions. The signals may then be transferred through one
`or more decrypters. The separated and possibly wholly
`or partially decrypted signals are then transferred
`through one or more processors and buffers to external
`equipment and/or data recorders. The data recorders
`are adapted to output data to remote sites on predeter(cid:173)
`mined instructions. In all these functions, the apparatus
`are governed by one or more controllers. The methods
`co-ordinate and instruct equipment in the transmission
`and presentation of radio and television programming,
`especially in multi-media and multi-channel presenta(cid:173)
`tions, and in certain other functions.'
`
`13 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures
`
`------------,
`l
`
`8
`
`10
`....-----'--, I
`I
`I
`~----.,.-..J I
`I
`I JACK
`iPORTSlO
`!EXTERNAL
`,---.L..J..---'---, 1EOUIP'~
`
`OTHER INPUTS
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`1 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 3 of 61 PageID #: 1442
`
`-\0
`
`00
`-..)
`
`16
`
`I toTHER
`I
`INPUTS
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`__ j
`
`OTHER
`
`INPUTS
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`2 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 4 of 61 PageID #: 1443
`
`FIG .. ~ 2A
`
`FREQUENCY
`OF
`INTEREST
`AT FIXED
`FREQUENCY
`
`r
`
`FILTER
`
`PATI:i C
`
`DIGITAL
`DETECTOR
`
`•
`
`-..
`
`TV SIGNAL DECODER
`----------------------------------------~
`32
`31
`38
`r
`I
`[
`I
`ONE TV
`I
`AMPLITUDE
`I
`CHANNEL DEMODULATOR
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`PATH A
`
`f33
`
`DETECTS
`EMBEDDED
`SIGNAL
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`_____ 1
`
`(34
`
`• DIGITAL
`DETECTOR
`t
`:
`
`LINE
`RECEIVER
`4
`L ___________ l
`1
`r I I
`1 I I
`I
`I
`I
`I I I
`+
`I I 1
`-------------------------+-rr-t---- --- ---'
`I I I
`I
`
`PATH 8
`
`(35
`
`4
`
`AUDIO
`DEMODULATOR
`
`0-15
`KH2
`
`{36
`
`HIGH PASS
`FILTER
`
`137
`
`I
`
`DIGITAL
`DETECTOR
`
`INPUT CONTROL
`INFORMATION
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`3 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 5 of 61 PageID #: 1444
`
`RADIO SIGNAL DECODER
`(PATH D)
`RADIO
`RECEIVER
`CIRCUITRY
`•
`' \42
`411 +
`L---------~: ~-----------'
`FIG. 6J
`FIG. 6H
`I
`I
`I
`INPUT
`CONTROL
`INFORMATION
`
`Fl G. 28
`
`RADIO
`DECODER
`
`DIGITAL
`DETECTOR
`
`l43
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`FIG. 38 FIG. 3C
`
`FIG. 2C
`
`FIG. 6F FIG. 6G
`
`OTHER SIGNAL DECODER
`(PATH E)
`OTHER
`DIGITAL
`RECEIVER
`DETECTOR
`CIRCUITRY
`t
`i
`( 46
`,) 45
`L ____ , ~-----~
`I
`I
`INPUT
`CONTROL
`INFORMATION
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`4 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 6 of 61 PageID #: 1445
`
`SATELLITE EARTH
`STATION RECEIVER 50
`
`FIG. 3A 51
`
`/
`
`MICROWAVE
`RECEIVER
`SYSTEM 57
`
`TELEVISION
`l---------4...--~ VIDEO 8 AUDIO
`
`l
`
`~~~~~~E~=~ r - - - - - - - - -+1
`
`,.:;560
`
`~·~·--------~
`TV
`DEMODULATOR
`r--- _____ =(62
`1 PRg~~f~ING 1
`~ N_P~!_ _~~A~~
`
`--i0>1
`
`FROM CABLE FIELD
`DISTRIBUTION
`SYSTEM ----~
`
`70....,---1
`~-----------~ ~---~
`...J INPUTS FROM DIS(cid:173)
`TRIBUTION AMPLIFIERS
`
`L
`
`TELEPHONE OR OTHER DATA
`TRANSFORMER NETWORK ._...,:
`97)
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`5 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 7 of 61 PageID #: 1446
`
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`
`SheetS of14
`
`4,694,490
`
`Fl G. 38
`
`___ _LCABLE ~YSTEM_HEAE_ EN~ __ - - - - ____ _
`I
`1-=-----_ -::::. :.::::.::..:::
`I
`::
`I I
`I
`~--~~-----------.
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`1
`
`75
`
`MATRIX
`SWITCH
`
`: l r------ ---
`I : : r--- -- __ ,..
`
`I
`
`---
`
`I
`I I I
`I
`--~I 1 l l r
`I I I
`I I
`I
`I I I r-
`I I
`I
`1 I I I
`I I
`I I
`I '---++--
`I I I
`I I I I
`1 I
`I I 1 1
`I I
`I I 1 I r---
`I I
`I I I I I
`- - - - I I
`I I 1
`- - -
`I 1
`I I
`I I I I j : -
`I I I I I I I
`I I
`: I
`I I I I I I I
`I I I I I I I
`I I
`I I I I I I I
`I I
`1 I I I I I I ~
`I I
`I I I I I I I z
`I I
`- - - - - - - ,
`1o
`1 1: I J1
`I I
`VTR
`I
`I
`I
`I I
`II
`---------~--1 I I
`II I
`I I IU)
`79
`I I
`I
`I I I I I...J
`~----1--,
`II II I II<!:
`1 z
`I I 1 1 I I
`I I
`SIG
`1 I I I I I 1 (!)
`1
`I I
`I ONLY
`I I I I I(/)
`I
`I I
`L ___ 1~-=-l-- _,..J.~-LI....L...LI~~..J...J......J...J......i....a_
`CODE
`READER
`I
`L_ __ ....__ ___ _
`
`77
`TV SIGNAL
`DECODER (FIG.2A)
`178
`
`-
`
`SIG.
`0.
`
`I
`
`•
`
`SIGNALS
`I ONLY
`
`TELEPHONE OR
`OTHER DATA
`TRANSFER
`NETWORK 98
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`6 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 8 of 61 PageID #: 1447
`
`~-----'-.
`
`(82
`
`(83
`
`I
`
`"
`
`---------------------~
`
`=--=---=--=======-=---==:::-_-=-~=-=---=---, --------- __, Fl G 3C
`+
`..
`/81
`/80
`TV SIGNAL
`SIGNAL ~ SIGNAL
`CABLE
`DECODER
`GENERATOR --... MC~tLNL~~6R ~
`STRIPPER
`------- (FIG. 2A)
`--------------:,84----------85------.
`86
`/87
`CABLE
`TV SIGNAL
`SIGNAL
`SIGNAL
`STRIPPER 1 - GENERATOR r---. CHANNEL
`-------1 DECODER
`(FIG. 2A)
`MODULATOR
`_____ _...,
`--------------------- _t
`90
`89
`91
`----r~·-- ------y88 1 - - - - - - {
`1------1-1
`1- - - - - - - - {
`I
`I
`I
`1
`I
`1
`I
`I
`- "4 - - - - - -1 ~ ~ r-+1
`I
`_____ _j
`I
`I
`:
`I
`I
`I
`I
`-------'="===-=----=-_:_- --=----=-=r-- _I
`
`1-+
`
`L --- ___ .J
`
`I __ --.---- -1
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _I
`92-
`CHANNEL
`COMBINING
`SYSTEM a
`MUL Tl PLEXER
`
`LOCAL
`----- INPUT 1--74
`_____________ j
`
`l
`
`95
`
`r----------------J
`94
`CABLE FIELD DISTRIBUTION
`q
`1
`SYSTEM 93
`1
`96
`I
`SIGNALS ONLY
`SIGNAL
`I
`1---- TO EXTERNAL .
`PROCESSOR
`EQUIPMENT
`(FIG. 1)
`.--.
`~
`~~--~~---r----~
`TELEPHONE ~ROTHER DATA
`TRANSFER NETWORK
`'-- 9 9
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`7 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 9 of 61 PageID #: 1448
`
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`
`Sheet 7 of 14
`
`4,694,490
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`.
`
`rl02
`
`\'00
`
`\101
`
`OCAL
`L
`NPUT
`I
`
`---~
`
`PROGRAMING
`SIGNAL
`DECRYPTOR
`PROCESSOR --~
`OR INTERRUPT
`(FIG. 1)
`MEANS
`
`FIG. 4 B
`
`103
`
`LOCAL r--(cid:173)
`INPUT
`
`SIGNAL
`PROCESSOR
`(FIG. 1)
`
`+
`
`104
`
`PROGRAMING
`DECRYPTOR
`OR INTERRUPT
`MEANS
`
`FIG. 4C
`
`r'08
`
`l1Q6
`
`(107
`
`LOCA
`L
`T r - - - -
`INPU
`
`SIGNAL
`PROCESSOR
`(FIG. 1)
`
`PROGRAMING
`DECRYPTOR
`I----.
`OR INTERRUPT
`.
`MEANS
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`8 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 10 of 61 PageID #:
` 1449
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`
`4,694,490
`
`SheetS of14
`
`FIG. 40
`
`\109
`
`112
`
`r"o
`
`LOCAL
`INPUT
`
`SIGNAL
`-----. PROCESSOR
`(FIG. 1}
`
`PROGRAMING
`f-- __., DECRYPTOR
`OR INTERRUPT
`~-1
`MEANS
`I
`I"
`I
`I
`I
`PROGRAMING
`L..., DECRYPTOR
`OR INTERRUPT
`MEANS
`
`(Ill
`
`I
`
`FIG. 4E
`
`MULTI-CHANNEL
`CABLE
`TRANSMISSION
`FACILITY
`~113
`...------
`114' +
`
`. /ll9
`
`CABLE
`r-11 TUN CONVERTER
`i ER
`BOX
`
`I
`
`rll8
`
`r--.
`:
`PROGRAMING"
`L.. O~Ef~f~J~~PT
`MEANS
`
`CABLE
`CONVERTER
`BOX
`
`115)
`
`.
`
`TUN
`. ~
`r112
`\
`i
`ER
`I --
`SIGNAL
`+
`PROCESSOR
`( Fl G. 1)
`.--
`+
`~
`PROGRAMING
`O~Ef~i~~~~PT ~ I
`MEANS
`1·
`t
`:
`I
`I
`
`LOCAL
`INPUT
`
`___ j
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`9 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 11 of 61 PageID #:
` 1450
`
`131
`
`Fl G.
`
`)
`I
`MULTICHANNEL
`CABLE TV
`I
`INPUT
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`134
`, - - - -L - - -L .
`
`CABLE
`, - - - - - - -1 CONVERTER
`BOX
`
`5 ----------------------- .... ,
`
`149
`150
`TV SIGNAL TV SIGNAL
`------- DECODER DECODER
`(
`(FIG. 2A)
`(FIG. 2A)
`,------,,------,
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`\ ______ .... • '-- -----'
`I
`I
`I
`I
`MULT~PICTURE
`TV SET
`
`II
`II
`II
`
`I
`I
`I
`
`0
`
`0
`
`148
`
`-"'til -\0
`
`00
`.......
`
`TV SIGNAL
`DECODER
`(FIG. 2A)
`
`D
`
`0
`
`135
`
`VIDEO DISC
`PLAYER
`
`137
`
`138
`
`--~, :
`I TELEPHONE OR I : !
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`
`--...
`1
`
`I
`I
`
`,.__
`
`139
`,....--~:..___----..L, OTHER DATA
`SIGNAL
`TRANSFER
`DIVIDER
`NETWORK
`L...----,---1
`143
`
`MON TOR
`RADIO
`OR
`DECODER
`(FIG. 2B) PROCESSOR
`
`RADIO
`
`141
`
`OTHER SIGNAL
`DECODER
`(FIG. 2C)
`
`MICRO(cid:173)
`COMPUTER
`
`142
`
`,
`1 1
`1 1
`: 1
`I
`I
`I
`\ ___________ --
`1
`\
`I
`TV SIGNAL
`_,
`DECODER
`(FIG. 2A)
`
`PRI NTER._--L-
`
`D
`
`oTV SET o
`
`144
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`10 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 12 of 61 PageID #:
` 1451
`Sheet 10 of14 4,694,490
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`
`MULTI-CHANNEL CABLE TRANSMISSION FIG. 6A
`
`200
`
`201
`
`ONE TV CHANNEL
`
`D
`
`200
`
`Fl G. 68
`4.
`
`SIGNAL
`PROCESSOR
`(FIG. 1)
`
`202
`
`0 TV SET 0
`TV SIGNAL
`DECODER
`(FIG. 2A)
`203
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`11 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 13 of 61 PageID #:
` 1452
`Sheet 11 of 14 4,694,490
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`
`Fl G. 6C
`
`MULTI-CHANNEL CABLE TRANSMISSION
`
`ONE
`DIGITAL
`DATA
`CH.
`
`CABLE
`CONVERTER
`BOX
`ONE!
`TV
`CH
`\
`
`-205
`- - - - -
`
`SIGNAL
`CABLE
`CONVERTER TUNER ..,._-- PROCESSOR ~--.. TUNER
`BOX
`(FIG. 1)
`f
`•
`. +
`I
`I
`1
`I _______ j
`I
`I 1 --------------J
`li I
`I 1 I
`(203
`204) ,- ..... ,
`J t I
`MONITOR TV SIGNAL
`OR
`DECODER ..,.
`PROCESSOR
`(FIG. 2A)
`
`~
`MICROCOMPUTER
`
`-
`
`---~ 202- Dr----
`
`0 TV SET 0
`
`i--215
`
`:: i
`l I I
`
`I I :
`l---•SWITCH" TUNER
`I I 1
`216-
`1: L--------------~
`I I
`: I
`I I
`220)
`I I
`r--"-----t
`I I _____ CONTROL
`VIDEO
`MEANS RECORDER/PLAYER 1-----.
`I
`I L ______ _
`
`11
`
`1
`
`PRINTER
`
`219
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`12 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 14 of 61 PageID #:
` 1453
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`Sheet 12 of14 4,694,490
`
`.
`
`MULTI-CHANNEL CABLE TRANSMISSION
`
`FIG 60
`
`•
`
`0 TV SET 0
`
`227
`
`228
`
`FIG. 6E
`
`1'200
`-----.,...- -------,
`
`'
`
`I
`
`DECRYPTER
`I
`
`(224
`
`I
`
`r
`
`..___
`
`I
`L
`
`--
`
`SIGNAL
`
`-· PROCESSOR
`TE~~-
`PHONE
`NET-
`WORK
`
`(FIG. 1)
`I
`I
`1 _____ _
`1
`I L __ - -- -1 I -
`I
`L _____ l
`1 I I
`I I I
`1 I I __ •
`I I
`I I
`I L __ ~ SIGNAL GENERATOR
`I
`I
`I _ _:_:_ __ ,
`
`· (232
`LASER
`VIDEODISC
`SYSTEM
`•
`
`l (205
`
`MICRO
`COMPUTER
`WITH INPUT
`MEANS
`
`SIGNAL STRIPPER
`
`•
`
`DECRYPTER
`
`I
`
`PRINTER OR OTHER
`RECEIVER' MEANS
`
`229
`,:
`
`i-: 230
`
`2 31
`
`/ 221
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`13 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 15 of 61 PageID #:
` 1454
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`
`Sheet 13 of14 4,694,490
`
`.
`FIG 6F MULTICHANNEL CABLE SYSTE
`I (2o1
`
`2
`50'\
`
`(222
`
`zoo,
`
`CONVERTER
`
`CONVERTER
`
`r -
`
`TELEPHONE
`NETWORK
`
`1
`
`__ j
`
`(258
`
`MATRIX
`SWITCH
`
`}l.t
`
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I !
`
`1
`
`7 ~
`
`777T/7 '7 77/
`
`RTH EA
`ST. ATION
`SATELLITE
`RECEIVER
`CIRCUITRY
`
`(251
`
`+ I
`I
`1 r----
`I I
`I I
`._,II
`I I I
`I I I
`~-------~-~~:I
`0 ----l
`I
`I I I I
`I
`L ___ -\.25~ I I I I
`I I I I
`I I
`1 I
`I
`
`r.===-====_j I 1
`L II r------_j J
`L I I I r-- RECORDER/
`-- RECORDER/
`PLAYER
`(256
`-· MEMORY
`COMPUTER 1--
`I
`1--
`UNIT
`I
`: ·---@~-~-
`I r-1
`I
`II L------- _j
`
`I I ...---- - - --
`I I
`I 1 I
`(217
`I I
`I 1 \
`TELEVISION ~
`
`PLAYER
`
`I-
`
`t255
`AUDIO
`
`1--
`
`1 - -
`
`I I
`I I
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`. ... .
`
`....
`.
`
`I
`Tl
`t SWITCH CONTROiL
`INSTRUCTIONS 1 :
`r225
`: 1
`~J :
`DECRYPTER ~
`~I
`I
`I
`I
`
`'---
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`...
`-
`- STRIPPER 1--
`....
`._..
`
`r231
`
`DECRYPTER ~ ~
`1--
`
`"' j
`
`(229
`
`SIGNAL
`
`14-
`14---
`
`r230
`SIGNAL
`GENERATOR
`
`~
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`14 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 16 of 61 PageID #:
` 1455
`U.S. Patent Sep. 15, 1987
`Sheet14 of 14 4,694,490
`
`FIG. 6G
`
`(225
`
`lOCAL
`---- INPUT
`
`202
`
`D
`
`o TV SET o
`
`209
`
`221
`
`PRINTER
`
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`
`I I I:
`
`I I
`I I
`
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I I 1 - - - - -
`1
`--~-H--~~~-r~--------------~ I I
`I I
`I I
`205
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`
`MICRO-
`COMPUTER
`
`I
`I I I
`: I 1 I
`I I I
`I I I I
`I I I
`I I I 16
`1 1 I Ia::~ I I 1
`I :~Q II 1
`:: I 18t; I I 1
`I 1 I l::t:E2
`
`I I I
`
`I
`
`l \208
`
`WINDOW
`OPENING 8
`CLOSING
`MEANS
`
`I I I:
`: OTHER
`I
`1 r, RECEIVER
`:
`: MEANS
`II L_( ___ I
`1
`261
`
`1 1
`
`I I
`
`SW.
`CON. I I
`...... .....,....,J+-1+-It-+--<....;.-t~-t+-rt-----t
`INST. I :
`I I I
`I I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I I
`I I I
`I I
`1 I I
`1 I I
`I I I
`I I :
`I I I
`I I I
`
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`
`: l : ~~~ :: :1 FURN;CE I
`
`I I I(./)
`r-'-'-_._.__,_,__.........._..........._........,
`
`I I
`I I
`I I
`II
`,._II
`I
`I
`___ J
`I 259
`
`MATRIX
`SWITCH
`
`1 I I l 11 I I
`I I I Ill II
`I I 11 I' I I
`I I I I II I I
`I I I II I
`_____ j l l l l l l l
`till
`-------'111 I
`- - - - - - - II
`- - - - ______ II
`- - - - - - -- ---'
`
`______ _j
`
`= _::-_:-_::---_:-_:-__: j I I
`
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I I
`I
`I
`I
`1
`I
`1
`L
`
`I
`20 6 1
`I
`AIR
`1
`CONDITIONING I
`I
`SYSTEM
`I
`I
`207 II
`1 11 1
`r - - - - -
`1111
`I I I
`1
`1
`I
`I OTHER
`I 1 I
`1 : 1 I
`iEOUIPMENTI 1 I
`, 111
`I I I
`II I I
`1
`1111
`----r-..~1,
`l260
`I
`I I I I
`L-------- __ _j II
`I' L _____________ I
`L - - - - - - - - - - - - _.J
`L ___ - - - - - - _____ _l
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`15 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 17 of 61 PageID #:
` 1456
`
`1
`
`SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND
`METHODS
`
`4,694,490
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`At the present time, vast amounts of programing are
`transmitted through various media throughout the
`United States which programing is handled with signifi(cid:173)
`cant degrees of manual processing as different, discrete
`units of programing transmitted on single channel sys- 10
`terns. Broadcasters and cablecasters transmit program(cid:173)
`ing with the expectation that viewers in one place tune
`to only one channel at a time.
`On occasion and on a limited scale, the co-ordination
`of two media and two channels has occurred. Such 15
`co-ordination has taken the form of stereo simulcasts
`where one local television station broadcasts a program,
`generally of classical music, and simultaneously, a local
`radio station broadcasts the same music in stereo. But
`such simulcasts require significant degrees of manual 20
`processing at both the points of origination and recep(cid:173)
`tion.
`Today great potential exists for a significant increase
`in the scope and scale of multi-media and multi-channel
`presentations. This increase is desirable because it will 25
`increase variety and add substantially to the richness of
`presentations as regards both entertainment and the
`communications of ideas and information.
`This potential arises out of two simultaneous, inde(cid:173)
`pendent trends. One is the development and growth of 30
`the so-called cable television industry whose member
`companies deliver locally not one but many channels of
`programing. The other is the widespread and growing
`ownership of computers, especially microcomputers in
`homes.
`It is the object of this invention to unlock this poten(cid:173)
`tial by the development of means and methods which
`permit programing to communicate with equipment
`that is external to television and radio receivers, partfcu(cid:173)
`Iarly computers and computer peripherals such as print- 40
`ers.
`It is the further purpose of this invention to provide
`means and methods to process and monitor such trans(cid:173)
`missions and presentations at individual receiver sites
`and to control, in certain ways, the use of transmitted 45
`programing and the operation of certain associated
`equipment. Such receiver sites may be stations or sys(cid:173)
`tems that intend to retransmit the programing, or they
`may be end users of the programing. The present inven(cid:173)
`tion contemplates that certain data may be encrypted 50
`and that certain data collected from such processing
`and monitoring will automatically be transfered to a
`remote geographic location or locations.
`In the prior art, there have been attempts to develop
`systems to control programing and systems to monitor 55
`programing, but the two have been treated as separate
`systems, and each has had limited capacity.
`As regards control systems, cueing systems and
`equipment now exist that" transmit instructions to oper(cid:173)
`ating equipment at receiver sites by means of tone sig- 60
`nals that are carried, in television transmissions, in the
`audio portion and may be heard by the human ear. Such
`systems and devices are used to turn on equipment such
`as videotape players and recorders that have been man(cid:173)
`ually loaded and to tell such equipment how long to 65
`run. Such systems operate by transmitting operating
`signals that precede and follow programing and are
`called "headers" and "trailers" respectively. The use of
`
`2
`headers and trailers limits prior art in that headers and
`trailers can become separated from programing,
`thereby hampering automatic operations. Such prior art
`techniques have lacked the capacity to process the pro(cid:173)
`graming in various ways including to instruct receiver
`end equipment what specific programing to select to
`play or record other than that immediately at hand,
`how to load it on player or recorder equipment, when
`and how to play it or record it other than immediately,
`how to modify it, what equipment or channel or chan(cid:173)
`nels to transmit it on, when to transmit it, and how and
`where to file it or refile it or dispose of it. (Within televi(cid:173)
`sion studios that are original transmitters of program(cid:173)
`ing, certain systems and equipment do exist for certain
`automatic co-ordination of players, loaders, and other
`equipment; however, manual instructions still must be
`given, on site, for the co-ordination of such equipment
`which instructions are transmitted electronically on
`hardwire channels that are strictly separate from the
`channels on which the programing is transmitted and
`such instructions are never broadcast.) Such prior art
`systems and equipment have lacked the capacity to
`automatically coordinate multi-channel and multi(cid:173)
`media presentations. They have lacked the capacity to
`decrypt encrypted processing signals. They have lacked
`the capacity to monitor whether receiver-end equip-
`ment are following instructions properly.
`As regards monitoring systems, various systems and
`devices have been developed to determine what pro(cid:173)
`graming is played on television. One such system for
`monitoring programs is described in U.S. Pat. No.
`4,025,851 to Haselwood, et al. Another that monitors by
`means of audio codes that are only "substantially inaudi-
`35 ble" is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,391 to Crosby.
`Recently devices, called addressable converters, have
`been developed that facilitate so-called pay-per-view
`marketing of programing by monitoring what individ(cid:173)
`ual television receivers tune to and either permitting or
`preventing the tuners to tune to given frequencies satis(cid:173)
`factorily. Such prior art techniques and equipment have
`been limited to monitoring single broadcast stations,
`channels or units and have lacked the ability to monitor
`multimedia presentations. They have been able to moni-
`tor only the audio or the video portion of television
`transmissions. They have been able either to monitor
`what is transmitted over one channel or what is re(cid:173)
`ceived by one or more receivers but not both. They
`have lacked the capacity to record and transfer infor(cid:173)
`mation simultaneously. They have been unable to de(cid:173)
`crypt encrypted signals. They have been able to moni-
`tor only single signal word types or word lengths that
`are placed, within the transmissions, in locations that
`are unvarying and unvariable. They have lacked the
`capacity to compare, assemble, and/or evaluate multi(cid:173)
`word, multi-location signals. Except in the possible case
`of addressable converters, they have been unable to
`distinguish the absence of signals or signal words in
`transmissions. They have lacked the capacity to com(cid:173)
`municate processing instructions to external equipment
`as described in the paragraph above. It is the object of
`the present invention to overcome these and other defi(cid:173)
`ciencies of the prior art.
`(The term "signal unit" hereinafter means one com(cid:173)
`plete signal instruction or information message unit.
`Examples of signal units are a unique code identifying a
`programing unit, or a unique purchase order number
`identifying the proper use .of a programing unit, or a
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`16 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 18 of 61 PageID #:
` 1457
`
`4,694,490
`
`4
`receiving sites for various purposes including, for exam(cid:173)
`ple, the billing of individual customers. The method
`provides techniques whereby unauthorized use of pro(cid:173)
`graming and/or of signals may be prevented.
`These techniques employ signals embedded in pro(cid:173)
`grams. The advantage of such embedded signals, as
`compared to header and trailer signals, is that they
`cannot become separated inadvertantly from the pro(cid:173)
`graming and, thereby, inhibit automatic processing, that
`they can convey signals to equipment that must switch
`manners or modes of operation during transmissions of
`individual units of programing, and that they can be
`monitored. (The techniques described here may use
`headers and trailers from time to time.) The embedded
`signals may run and repeat continuously throughout the
`programing or they may run only occasionally or only
`once. They may appear in various and varying loca(cid:173)
`tions. In television they may appear on one line in the
`video portion of the transmission, or on a portion of one
`line, or on more than one line, and will probably lie
`outside the range of the television picture displayed on
`a normally tuned television set. In television and radio
`they may appear in a portion of the audio range that is
`not normally rendered in a form audible to the human
`ear. In television audio, they are likely to lie between
`eight and fifteen kilohertz. Signals may also be transmit(cid:173)
`ted on frequencies outside the ranges of television and
`radio. Different and differing numbers of signals may be
`sent in different and differing word lengths and loca(cid:173)
`tions.
`The present invention provides a method for obscur(cid:173)
`ing the meaning of the signals to prevent unauthorized
`use of the signals and of their associated programing.
`Their meanings may be obscured through encryption so
`that apparatus described below are necessary to decrypt
`them. In addition, the pattern of the composition, tim(cid:173)
`ing, and location of the signals may vary in such ways
`that only receiving apparatus that are preinformed re(cid:173)
`garding the patterns that obtain at any given time will
`be able to process the signals correctly. Both the ar(cid:173)
`rangement of signal units in signal words and the loca(cid:173)
`tions, timings, and lengths of signal words in individual
`transmissions or groups of transmissions may vary in
`fashions that can only be interpreted accurately by ap(cid:173)
`paratus that are preprogramed with the keys to such
`variations.
`The present invention also provides a method for
`identifying attempts to make unauthorized use of signals
`and the programing associated with signals. When an
`apparatus finds that signal words fail to appear in places
`and at times when and where they are expected, the
`apparatus may automatically contact one or more re(cid:173)
`mote sites and may or may not disable the flow of pro(cid:173)
`graming in one or more ways.
`The present invention contemplates signal processing
`apparatus comprising a device or devices that can selec(cid:173)
`tively scan transmission channels as directed. The chan(cid:173)
`nels may convey television, radio, or other transmission
`frequencies. The input transmissions may be received
`by means of antennas or from hard-wire connections.
`The scanners/switches, working in parallel or series or
`combinations, transfer the transmissions to receiver/(cid:173)
`decoder/detectors that identify signals encoded in pro(cid:173)
`graming transmissions and convert the encoded signals
`to -digital information; decryptors that may convert the
`received information, in part or in whole, to other digi(cid:173)
`tal information according to preset methods or patterns;
`and one or more processor/monitors and/or buffer/-
`
`3
`general instruction identifying whether a programing
`unit is to be retransmitted immediately or recorded for
`delayed transmission. The term "signal word" hereinaf(cid:173)
`ter means one full discrete appearance of a signal as
`embedded at one time in one location on a transmission.
`Examples of signal words are a string of one or more
`digital data bits encoded together on a single line of
`video or sequentially in audio. Such strings may or may
`not have predetermined data bits to identify the begin(cid:173)
`nings and ends of words. Signal words may contain 10
`parts of signal units, whole signal units, or groups of
`partial or whole signal units or combinations.)
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro(cid:173)
`cess and monitor signals on numerous channels by se(cid:173)
`quentially scanning each channel in a predetermined 15
`manner which manner may be varied. It is also an ob(cid:173)
`ject of the present invention to prevent unauthorized
`use of signals and programing by permitting signal en(cid:173)
`cryption, the variation of word numbers, word lengths,
`word compositions, and/or word locations. It is also an 20
`object of this system to process different signal words in
`different ways. It is also an object of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion to provide a record of signals that may be trans(cid:173)
`ferred to a geographically distant location on command
`or predetermined instruction.
`Other objects of this invention will appear from the
`following descriptions and the appended claims.
`
`25
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention consists of methods and appa- 30
`ratus with several forms.
`One method provides a technique whereby a broad(cid:173)
`cast or cablecast transmission facility can duplicate the
`operation of a television studio automatically through
`the use of instruction and information signals embedded 35
`in programing either supplied from a remote source or
`sources or prerecorded. The programing may be deliv(cid:173)
`ered to the transmission facility by any means including
`broadcast, hard-wire, and manual means. The transmis(cid:173)
`sion facility may transmit a single channel or multiple 40
`channels of programing. The method includes a moni(cid:173)
`toring technique to construct a record for each trans(cid:173)
`mitted channel that duplicates the log that the Federal
`Communications Commission requires broadcast sta(cid:173)
`tion operators to maintain. The method permits the 45
`transfer of such records to a predetermined site or sites
`in a predetermined fashion or fashions.
`Another rriethod has application at receiver sites such
`as private homes or public places like theaters, hotels,
`brokerage offices, etc., whether commercial establish- 50
`ments or not. This method provides
`techniques
`whereby, automatically, single channel, single medium
`presentations, be they television, radio, or other elec(cid:173)
`tronic transmissions, may be recorded, co-ordinated in
`time with other programing previously transmitted and 55
`recorded, or processed in other fashions. Multimedia
`presentations may be co-ordinated in time and/or in
`place as, for example, when real-time video programing
`is co-ordinated with presentations from a microcom(cid:173)
`puter working with data supplied earlier. This method 60
`provides techniques whereby the timing and fashion of
`the playing, processing, and co-ordination of a presenta(cid:173)
`tion or presentations may be determined at the time and
`place of transmission or of presentation, either in whole
`or in part, either locally or remotely, or a combination 65
`of these factors. The method provides monitoring tech(cid:173)
`niques to develop data on patterns of viewership and to
`permit the detemination of specific usage at individual
`
`VIZIO, Inc. Exhibit 1003
`17 of 60
`
`

`
`Case 2:15-cv-01366-JRG-RSP Document 18-8 Filed 10/14/15 Page 19 of 61 PageID #:
` 1458
`
`4,694,490
`
`5
`comparators that organize and transfer the information
`stream. The processors and buffers can have inputs
`from each of the receiver/detector lines and evaluate
`information continuously. From the processors and
`buffers, the signals may be transferred to external equip(cid:173)
`ment such as computers, videotape recorders and play(cid:173)
`ers, etc. And/or they may be transferred to one or more
`internal digital recorders that receive and store in mem(cid:173)
`ory the recorded information and have connections to
`one or more remote sites for further transmission of the 10
`recorded information. The apparatus has means for
`external communication and an automatic dialer and
`can contact remote sites and transfer stored information
`as required in a predetermined fashion or fashions. The
`apparatus has a clock for determining and recording 15
`time as required. It has a read only memory for record(cid:173)
`ing permanent operating instructions and other infor(cid:173)
`mation and a programmable random access memory
`controller ("PRAM controller") that permits revision
`of operating patterns and instructions. The PRAM con- 20
`troller may be connected to all internal operating units
`for full flexibility of operations.
`Signal processing apparatus that are employed in
`specific situations that require fewer functions than
`those provided by the basic apparatus described above 25
`may omit one or more of the specific operating elements
`described above.
`
`6
`FIG. 6C is a block diagram of signal processor appa(cid:173)
`ratus and methods used to organize the reception of
`selected information and programing and to co-ordinate
`multi-media, multi-channel presentations in time.
`FIG. 6D is a block diagram of another example of
`multi-media, multi-channel co-ordination. In this case,
`the co-ordintation of video and print.
`FIG. 6E is a block diagram of signal processing tech(cid:173)
`niques co-ordinated with programing decryptions tech(cid:173)
`niques to facilitate electronic distribution of copy(cid:173)
`righted materials while discouraging pirating and unau(cid:173)
`thorized copying.
`FIGS. 6F and 6G comprise a block diagram of signal
`processor apparatus and methods as they might be used
`at a consumer receiver site.
`FIG. 6H shows th