United States Patent 15
`Kramer
`
`ny Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,931,871
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`[54] METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR
`IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF
`BROADCASTED PROGRAM SEGMENTS
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Robert A. Kramer, 627 14th St., Santa
`Monica, Calif. 90402
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 206,294
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Jun. 14, 1988
`
`[S21] Unt. CS voceccscccecessecene HO4N 7/08; HO4N 7/04;
`HO4N 9/00; HO4B 17/00
`[52] US. CL. oes cccssessesestereretenesese 358/142; 358/143;
`358/84; 455/2
`[58] Field of Search................... 358/84, 86, 142, 143,
`358/144, 145, 146, 147, 198; 370/76; 375/91;
`455/2, 49, 53, 67
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,845,391 10/1874 Crosby .....ssssesssssecesesnssesees 455/45
`4,547,804 10/1985 Greenberg
`- 358/147
`4,703,476 10/1987 Howard .....cccsesssessesssseennes 370/76
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2040129
`
`8/1980 United Kingdom................ 358/146
`
`Primary Examiner—John W. Shepperd
`Assistant Examiner—Michael D. Parker
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Leonard Bloom
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A methodof and system for identification and verifica-
`tion of TV and/or radio broadcasted program segments
`involving use of subaudible codes which are mixed with
`the convention audio in the program segments. Individ-
`ual program segments, which may include commercial
`message segments, have at the beginning thereof a pre-
`ambie code (such as a predetermined numberof cycles
`of 40 Hz.), a program segment
`identification code
`(which may consist of a series of alphanumeric charac-
`ters) and a postamble code (such as a given numberof
`cycles of 40 Hz.). The program segment codes may
`consist of a series of mark and space signals (such as
`presence and absence of 40 Hz.signals). A plurality of
`broadcast stations are monitored, the codes recovered
`and data sets defined, stored and later sent to a central
`location for reconciliation and/or compilation.
`
`33 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`START AUDIO FEED FROM RECORDING OR LIVE
`SOURCE _OF PROGRAM SEGMENT.
`
`MIX A PREDETERMINED NUMBER, FOR EXAMPLE,IO
`CYCLES OF 40Hz. TONE AS PREAMBLE CODE INTO
`AUDIO AT BEGINNING OF PROGRAM SEGMENT.
`
`MIX BURSTS OF 40Hz. AS MARKS WITH ABSENCE
`THEREOF CONSTITUTING SPACES AS AN ALPHA -
`NUMERIC PROGRAM SEGMENT IDENTIFICATION CODE
`INTO AUDIO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PRE -
`AMBLE CODE.
`
`OR MORE TV_OR RADIO STATIONS.
`
`THE MIXING OF THE PROGRAM SEGMENT
`REPEAT
`IDENTIFICATION CODE.
`INTO THE AUDIO TO PRO-
`VIDE A CONTINUITY INDICATOR UNTIL NEARLY
`THE ENTIRE PROGRAM SEGMENT HAS BEEN FED
`AND MIXED.
`
`MIX AGIVEN NUMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, 24 CYCLES
`OF 40Hz. TONE AS A POSTAMBLE CODE INTO AUD-
`IO AT END OF PROGRAM SEGMENT.
`
`RECORD OR FEED THE MIXED AUDIO SUB-~
`AUDIBLE 40Hz. SIGNALS FOR BROADCAST BY ONE
`
`Sony Exhibit 1015
`Sony Exhibit 1015
`Sony v. MZ Audio
`Sony v. MZ Audio
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`Sheet1 of 8
`
`4,931,871
`
`DATA SYNC IN (FROM FIG. IB)
`
` MODULATION OUT
`
`(TO FIG.
`
`|B)
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`Sheet 2 of8
`
`4,931,871
`
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`
`US. Patent—Jun. 5, 190 Sheet 3 of8 4,931,871
`
`
`
`START AUDIO FEED FROM RECORDING OR LIVE
`
`SOURCE OF PROGRAM SEGMENT.
`
`
`MIX A PREDETERMINED NUMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, IO
`
`CYCLES OF 40Hz. TONE AS PREAMBLE CODE INTO
`
`AUDIO AT BEGINNING OF PROGRAM SEGMENT.
`
`
`
`
`
`MIX BURSTS OF 40Hz. AS MARKS WITH ABSENCE
`
`THEREOF CONSTITUTING SPACES AS AN ALPHA -
`
`
`
`
`
`NUMERIC PROGRAM SEGMENT IDENTIFICATION CODE
`
`INTO AUDIO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PRE -
`
`AMBLE CODE.
`
`
`
`
`
`REPEAT
`
`THE MIXING OF THE PROGRAM SEGMENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IDENTIFICATION CODE INTO THE AUDIO TO PRO-
`VIDE A CONTINUITY INDICATOR UNTIL NEARLY
`THE ENTIRE PROGRAM SEGMENT HAS BEEN FED
`AND MIXED.
`
`. MIX A GIVEN NUMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, 24 CYCLES
`OF 40Hz. TONE AS A POSTAMBLE CODE INTO AUD-
`
`
`
`10 AT END OF PROGRAM_SEGMENT.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RECORD OR FEED THE MIXED AUDIO SUB-
`
`
`AUDIBLE 40Hz. SIGNALS FOR BROADCAST BY ONE
`
`
`OR MORE TV. OR RADIO STATIONS.
`
`_—t——_19' 4
`
`

`

`US.Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`Sheet4 of8
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`4,931,871
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`4,931,871
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`Sheet6 of 8
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`4,931,871
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 1990
`
`Sheet7 of8
`
`4,931,871
`
`HAS A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF 40Hz, CYCLES IN THE hal
`
`
`INDICATING START
`RANGE OF FROM 3 CYCLES TO 10 CYCLES
`
`
`OF PROGRAM SEGMENT BEEN RECEIVED?
`YES
`
`LXY
`
`
`
`HAS A SEQUENCE OF MARK AND SPACE SIGNALS CONSISTING
`
`
`
`OF PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF BURSTS OF 40Hz. AND CON-}NO
`
`
`STITUTING AN ALPHANUMERIC PROGRAM SEGMENT BEEN
`
`RECEIVED?
`
`
`HAS THE SEQUENCE OF MARK AND SPACE SIGNALS BEEN
`
`
`REPEATED ONE OR MORE TIMES INDICATING PROGRAM SEG-
`
`
`
`MENT CONTINUITY?
`
`FROM {7 CYCLES TO 24 CYCLES INDICATING END OF PRO-
`GRAM SEGMENT BEEN RECEIVED?
`
`
`
`
`
` HAS A GIVEN NUMBER OF 40Hz. CYCLES IN THE RANGE OF
`
`
`PRODUCE A DATA SIGNAL INDICATING RECEIPT OF PROGRAM
`SEGMENT IN ITS VIRTUAL ENTIRITY.
`
`
`
`INDICATING FAILURE TO RECEIVE
`
`IN ITS VIRTUAL ENTIRITY .
`
`
`
`
`PRODUCE A DATA SIGNAL
`
`THE PROGRAM SEGMENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`WHAT !S THE |DENT!-
`
`FICATION OF THE PRO-
`
`GRAM SEGMENT?
`
`
`
`STORE AS A DATA SET EITHER
`OF THE DATA SIGNALS WITH A
`
`SIGNAL REPRESENTATION OF THE
`
`PROGRAM SEGMENT, DATE-AND
`TIME-SIGNALS AND A STATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IDENTIFICATION SIGNAL.
`
`SEND THE DATA SET TO A CENTRAL PROCESSOR FOR
`LATER TRANSMISSION TO A RECONCILIATION LOCATION.
`
`tt17: 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun.5, 1990
`
`
`
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`

`METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR
`IDENTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION OF
`BROADCASTED PROGRAM SEGMENTS
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`1
`
`nN
`
`3
`
`40
`
`1. Field of Invention
`This invention relates generally to an improved
`method of and system for automatically identifying and
`verifying television and radio program segments,
`in-
`cluding commercial messages, using identification
`codes. More particularly, the present invention relates
`to such an improved method and system which do not
`degrade program quality, are not perceptible to a lis-
`tener or viewer and are very reliable.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Over the years two general techniques have been
`developed in program identification systems; these are
`identification encoding and pattern recognition, but
`these techniques as thus far developed have been found
`to be substantially limited and have not been entirely
`satisfactory.
`Program identification coding methods have been
`divided into two general areas, audio and video ending.
`Audio encoding (e.g. U.S. Pat No. 3,845,391 to Crosby)
`has provento be unsatisfactory for television broadcast-
`ing. In the final report of the Ad Hoc Committee On
`Television broadcast Ancillary Signals Of The Joint
`Committee On Intersociety Coordination (published
`May, 1978), the Journal Of The Society Of Motion
`Picture and Television Engineers found the aforemen-
`tioned audio program identification to be extremely
`unreliable and caused significant degradation of pro-
`gram signal quality.
`Video encoding has also proved to beless than satis-
`factory for television broadcasting. In U.S. Pat No.
`4,025,851 to Haselwood et al. for network clearance
`monitoring, a 48 character digital code is placed onto
`the vertical blanking interval of line 20. While the use of
`line 20 reduced the degradation of the program signal
`quality, the encoding system used therein is overly com-
`plex and inadequate. This system utilizes a changed line
`format for the handling of the data, which requires—
`complex data processing, encoding, storage and verifi-
`cation. In addition, the system is only able to monitor 45
`the broadcast of a single network with an inability to
`scan more than one channel. Moreover, only a method
`and system for the identification of the program is dis-
`closed with there being no teachingas to the integration
`and recording of information as to the program’s audio
`and visual quality.
`A process for automatic electronic recognition and
`identification of programs and commercial advertise-
`ments broadcast on television and radio has been pro-
`posed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,479 to Moon et al., wherein 5
`a digitally sampled reference signal segment derived
`from either the audio or video portion ofthe original
`program contentto be identified is compared with suc-
`cessive digitally sampled segments of the corresponding
`audio or video portion of a broadcast signal in a correla-
`tion process to produce a correlation function signal.
`The sampling rates and the time duration of the refer-
`ence signal segment and the broadcast signal segments
`are the same. Whenthe signal segments which are com-
`pared are the same, the correlation function signal is
`relatively large and a recognition thereof is achieved
`when such correlation function signal exceeds a se-
`lected threshold level. The compared signal segments
`
`6
`
`0
`
`6
`
`5
`
`1
`
`4,931,871
`
`2
`may also be obtained as low frequencysignals derived
`from the original reference and broadcast signals by
`non-linear and envelope formation processing tech-
`niques. This example of computerized pattern recogni-
`tion is very complex and related solely to program
`content.
`
`Noneof the above-noted prior attempts to verify the
`broadcasting of commercial messages have met with
`wide acceptance, because each requires either changes
`in operating procedures, purchase of external hardware,
`or some amount of manual reconciliation.
`Radio and television stations earn the bulk of their
`revenue by broadcasting commercial messages. Some of
`these messagesare for local advertisers, while a variable
`percentage is derived from so-called national advertis-
`ers. It is customary for these national advertisers to
`employ advertising agencies to create the actual com-
`mercials to be aired; these agencies then proceed to buy
`air time in the desired radio/television markets. Due to
`the sheer numbers of markets and broadcastoutlets (air
`time is generally purchased on more than one station
`within a market, and many markets can be specified),
`the agencies usually make use of firms which represent
`the individual stations. If a radio or television network
`is included, the network is contacted, and time is pur-
`chased. Thus, a commercial can reach an individual
`station by one of two routes, via a wired network (such
`as ABC, NBC or CBS), or through an “un-wired”’ net-
`work, such as one of the national station-representing
`firms. In both circumstances, it is necessary that the
`network and the agency have some meansofverifying
`that the commercial(s) were broadcast as specified.
`At present, these verifications (affidavits of perfor-
`mance) are generally generated manually, by each radio
`and television station. The originating network must
`then collect and reconcile each of these affidavits, also
`manually. This process is very lengthy and prone to
`error. Only after the affidavits are reconciled can pay-
`mentto the networks andstations be made. The average
`lead time for payment to a local television or radio
`station, broadcasting a nationally-originated commer-
`cial, is four-to-six months. Most of this delay is directly
`attributable to the manual processing involved, and
`virtually all station and network personnel,for a variety
`of reasons, are desirous of a faster, more reliable, auto-
`mated meansof verifying broadcasts.
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`An object of the present invention is to provide a
`novel and improved method of and system for auto-
`matic television and radio broadcast program segment
`identification and verification.
`Another object is to provide a novel and improved
`methodof and system for automatic television and radio
`broadcast program segmentidentification and verifica-
`tion that does not degrade the broadcast content.
`A further object is to provide a novel and improved
`method of and system for automatic television broad-
`cast program segment
`identification and verification
`that can monitor one or more channels at a time.
`An additional object is to provide a novel and im-
`proved method of and system for automatic television
`broadcast program segment identification and verifica-
`tion wherein the program data generates subsequent
`data whichis stored locally and later sent to a central
`evaluation center.
`
`

`

`4,931,871
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`20
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`
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`
`35
`
`3
`4
`Yet another object is to provide a method of and
`fication codes, following each preamble code occur-
`system for automatic television and radio broadcast
`rence, and a subaudible postamble code following each
`program segmentidentification and verification which
`program segment identification code occurrence. At
`does not require any modification of standard broad-
`least one monitoring station receives the broadcasted
`casting studio and/or transmitting equipment.
`signals. The monitoring station includes (a) means for
`Yet a further object of the present invention is to
`generating date-indicating and time-indicating signals,
`provide a method of and a system for automatic televi-
`(b) respective channels responsive to the broadcasted
`sion and radio broadcast program segmentidentifica-
`signal from each respective broadcasting station for
`tion andverification which is both simple andreliable.
`recovering each received preamble code, each received
`Yet an additional object of the present inventionis to
`respective program segment
`identification code and
`provide a method of and system for automatictelevision
`each received postamble code and (c) means for provid-
`and broadcast commercial message identification and
`ing respective broadcast station-identification signals.
`verification.
`Storing means at the monitoring station store as data
`Still another object of the present invention is to
`signal representations of each occurrence of the recov-
`provide a method of and a system for automatictelevi-
`ered preamble code, the recovered respective program
`sion and radio broadcast commercial message which
`segment identification code and recovered postamble
`produces data indicative of interruptions of identified
`code, the date-indicating and time-indicating signals,
`commercial messages identification and verification.
`and the station-identifying signals for each channel.
`An improved method of and a system for identifica-
`Means at the monitoring station send the stored data
`tion and verification of radio and television transmitted
`signal representations to a central station. The central
`program and commercial materials are provided in
`Station is provided with means for receiving data from a
`accordance with the present invention. Assurance of
`plurality of monitoring stations to compile and/or to
`properairing of these materials is achieved through an
`reconcile the received data with program segment data
`encoded subaudible message received by the system
`provided by the originator(s).
`described herein, and transmission to a central reconcil-
`The invention can also be seen as being in a system
`iation point of these encoded messages for the purpose
`for identification and verification of broadcasted pro-
`of generating proof-of-performance affidavits. The
`gram segments, someorall of which may be commer-
`present invention utilizes a unique program identifica-
`cial message segments, from a plurality of broadcasting
`tion code, which is recorded in the main audio channel.
`stations. At least one monitoring station receives broad-
`This code is intended for recording on a master tape of
`casted signals from broadcasting stations. The monitor-
`the program or commercial, and subsequent duplica-
`ing station includes (a) means for generating date-
`tions of this master tape would likewise contain the
`indicating and time-indicating signals,
`(b) respective
`identification code. Radio andtelevision stations broad-
`channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals
`casting the tape need add no hardware, nor make any
`from respective broadcasting stations for recovering a
`changes whatsoever in their operating procedures. A
`subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible pro-
`code receiving device, which monitors all radio and
`gram segment identification codes, and a subaudible
`television stations in a given market area,is, in effect, a
`postamble code, and (c) meansfor providing respective
`multi-channel receiver, programmedto filter out all
`broadcast station-identification signals. Means at
`the
`material except the transmitted subaudible codes based
`monitoring station store as data signal representations of
`on a single frequency subaudible tone. In this manner,
`each occurrence of the recovered preamble code, the
`the receiving device identifies the transmitting radio
`recovered respective program identification codes and
`and television stations, the code (and thus the particular
`the postamble code,
`the date-indicating and time-
`program segment, such as a commercial message) and,~
`indicating signals, and the station-identifying signals for
`in effect, stamps this data with the time and date, and,if
`each channel. Means at the monitoring station send the
`desired, a signal which indicates whether or not the
`individual program segments, including individual com-
`stored data signal representations to a central station.
`Thecentral station is provided with meansfor receiving
`mercial messages, was broadcastedin its entirety. Thus,
`it is possible to monitor an entire market’s broadcast
`data from a plurality of monitoring stations to compile
`facilities (radio and television, including cable sources).
`and/or to reconcile the received data with program
`At a given time each day,
`the monitoring receiving
`data provided by the originator(s).
`station transmits all received codes (along with the
`The invention can also be seen as being in a system
`identifying data), through a modem,to a central recon-
`for identification and verification of broadcasted pro-
`ciliation location. The central reconciliation location
`gram segmentsfromaplurality of broadcasting stations.
`may include a computer which compares the received
`Atleast one monitoring station is provided for receiving
`data with information supplied at the time the original
`broadcasted signals from broadcasting stations. The
`program encoding occurred. In this manner, affidavits
`monitoring station has (a) means for generating date-
`proving performance (necessary for payment of adver-
`indicating and time-indicating signals,
`(b) respective
`tising charges for networks andindividualstations) can
`channels responsive to respective broadcasted signals
`be generated on a market-by-market basis, along with
`from respective broadcasting stations for recovering a
`suchstatistical data regarding these broadcast programs
`subaudible preamble code, respective subaudible pro-
`as may be deemed desirable.
`gram segment
`identification codes of each program
`From one vantage point the invention can be viewed
`segment received therefrom and a subaudible postamble
`as a system for identification and verification of broad-
`code, and (c) meansfor providing respective broadcast
`casted program segments, which may include commer-
`station-identification signals. Storing means at the moni-
`cial message segments. The system includesa plurality
`toring station store as data signal representations of
`of broadcasting stations for broadcasting signals which
`each occurrence of the recovered preamble code, the
`include program segments having a subaudible pream-
`recovered commercial messageidentification codes, the
`ble code, respective subaudible program segmentidenti-
`preamble code, the date-indicating and time-indicating
`
`40
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`

`

`4,931,871
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`20
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`5
`6
`each time it is received therefrom and the date-indicat-
`signals, and the station-identifying signals for each
`channel.
`ing and time-indicating signals each time a program
`Fromaslightly different point of view the invention
`segment is received. Thereafter, the method provides
`can be seen as being in a system for identification and
`for sending the stored signals as data to a central point
`verification of broadcasted program segments from a 5
`which also receives data from other monitoring loca-
`plurality of broadcasting stations. One or more of the
`tions for compilation and/or reconciliation.
`segments may be a commercial message segment. At
`The method, from a somewhat different vantage
`least one monitoring station receives broadcasted sig-
`point can be seen as a method of identification and
`nais from broadcasting stations. The monitoring station
`verification of broadcasted program segments which
`is provided with (a) means for generating date-indicat- 10
`involves providing program segments having a subaudi-
`ing and time-indicating signals, (b) respective channels
`ble preamble code, respective subaudible program seg-
`responsive to respective broadcasted signals from re-
`ment identification codes and a subaudible postamble
`spective broadcasting stations for recovering program
`codes. In accordance with the method, it provides for
`segment identification codes therefrom, and (c) means
`receiving at a monitoring location broadcasted signals,
`for providing respective broadcast station-identification 15
`including the program segments and codes, from a plu-
`signals. Storing means at the monitoring station stores
`rality of broadcast stations, and deriving from the re-
`as data signal representations of occurrences of the
`ceived broadcast signals the preamble code, the respec-
`recovered program segment identification codes, the
`tive program segmentidentification codes and the post-
`date-indicating and time-indicating signals, and the sta-
`amble code. The method further involves providing at
`tion-identifying signals for each channel.
`the monitoring location respective broadcast station
`The plurality of broadcasting stations may include
`identification signals and generating at the monitoring
`television stations and standard radio broadcasting sta-
`location respective date-indicating and time-indicating
`tions.
`signals. Thereafter, the method involves storing at the
`The standard radio broadcasting stations may include
`monitoring location signals representing occurrences of
`frequency modulation broadcaststations and amplitude 25
`the recovered preamble code, the recovered respective
`modulation broadcast stations.
`program segment identification codes and the recov-
`Some of the broadcast stations may be cable channels
`ered postamble code, when received, each broadcast
`of a distribution system.
`station identification signal from which each program
`The subaudible program segmentidentification codes
`segment was received eachtimeit is received therefrom
`may consist of respective series of alphanumeric charac- 30
`and the date-indicating and time-indicating signals each
`ters. The characters in a code may consist offour letters
`time a program segment is received. The method also
`and four numerals. The alphanumeric characters are
`provides for sending the stored signals as data to a cen-
`formed by a series of mark signals and spacesignals,
`tral point which also receives data from other monitor-
`defined respectively by presence and absence of a 40
`ing locations for compilation and/or reconciliation.
`This invention can also be viewed as a method of
`Hz. subaudiblesignal.
`The subaudible preamble code may consist of a pre-
`identification and verification of broadcasted program
`determined number of cycles of 40 Hz. signal and the
`segments which involves providing program segments
`subaudible postamble code consists of a given number
`having a subaudible preamble code, respective subaudi-
`of cycles of 40 Hz.signal.
`ble program segmentidentification codes and a subaudi-
`In the event one wishes to check whether or not any 40
`ble postamble code, and receiving at a monitoring loca-
`given program segment was transmitted in its entirety,
`tion broadcasted signals,
`including the program seg-
`the respective program segmentidentified code is posi-
`ments and the codes, from the plurality of broadcast
`tioned immediately after the preamble code andis re-—
`stations. The method provides for deriving from the
`peated a sufficient numberof times up until the postam-
`received broadcast signals the preamble code, the re-
`ble codestarts.
`spective program segments identification codes and the
`In its method aspect, the invention may be seen as a
`postamble code, and generating at the monitoring sta-
`methodof identification and verification of broadcasted
`tion respective broadcast station identification signals.
`program segments, which includes the step of providing
`The methodalso provides the steps of generating at the
`program segments having a subaudible preamble code,
`monitoring location respective date-indicating and
`respective subaudible program segment identification 50
`time-indicating signals; and storing at the monitoring
`codes and a subaudible postamble code, and broadcast-
`location as. data signals representing occurrence of the
`ing the program segments with the codes from a plural-
`preamble code, the respective program segmentidenti-
`ity of broadcast stations. Thereafter, the method in-
`fication codes and the postamble code whenreceived,
`volves receiving at a monitoring location broadcasted
`each broadcaststation identification signal from which
`signals, including the program segments and the codes, 55
`each program segment was received, each time it is
`from the plurality of broadcast stations, and deriving
`received therefrom, and the date-indicating and time-
`from the received broadcast signals the preamble code,
`indicating signals each time a program segmentis re-
`the respective program segment
`identification codes
`ceived.
`and the postamble code. The methodalso includes pro-
`In somecases the preamble and postamble codes need
`not be broadcasted in the event one wants to determine
`viding at the monitoring location respective broadcast 60
`station identification signals, and generating at the mon-
`only if the program segment was broadcasted without,
`regard to whether or not it was broadcasted in its en-
`itoring location respective date-indicating and time-
`indicating signals. Then, the method provides for stor-
`tirety.
`ing at the monitoring location signals representing oc-
`As with the system, in practicing the method, the
`currencesof the preamble code, the respective program 65
`program segments mayincludeor consist solely of com-
`segment identification codes and the postamble code
`mercial message program segments.
`when received, each broadcast station identification
`It is also desirable in practicing the method to provide
`signal from which each program segment was received
`the program segment
`identification code during the
`
`35
`
`45
`
`

`

`7
`entire time period between the preamble and postambie
`codes so that one can determineif any breaks occurred
`in the program segment. This is especially desirable
`when the program segment involved is a commercial
`message segment.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIGS. 1A and 1B constitute a schematic diagram of
`an exemplary embodiment of a circuit for encoding
`program segments,
`including commercial messages, 10
`which is particularly useful in practicing the present
`invention in both its system and method aspects.
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart helpful in understanding the
`operationof the circuit illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
`FIG.3 is a somewhat diagrammatic, pictorial view 15
`exemplifying the geographic relationship among broad-
`cast stations, including cable stations, a multichannel
`receiving station and a central computerlocation help-
`ful in understanding the present invention, in bothits
`system and method aspects.
`FIG.4 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary
`multichannel receiving station which may be used in
`practicing the present
`invention in its system and
`method aspects.
`FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment ofa signal pro- 25
`cessing channel, a plurality of which may be used for
`the channelsin the receiving station illustrated in FIG.
`4.
`
`20
`
`FIG.6 is a flowchart helpful in understanding the
`operation of the microprocessor forming part of the 30
`circuit shown in FIG.5.
`FIG.7 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary
`embodiment of a data center at which data from a plu-
`tality of receiving stations can be gathered, completed
`and/or reconciled.
`
`35
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`The exemplary circuit for encoding program seg-
`ments, including commercial messages, in accordance 40
`with a realized version of the present invention, as
`shownin FIGS. 1A and 1B include a programmed com-
`puter 10, which may be an IBM-PC-XT 1provided
`with a hard disk drive and one floppy disk drive, as
`illustrated. The circuit is provided with a conventional 45
`keyboard 11 and a conventional monochrome monitor
`12, these three components being connected together
`by conventional cables (not shown).
`The exemplary circuit includes a highly stable 40 Hz.
`sinewave generator 13 supplying its 40 Hz. output to a 50
`zero-crossing detector 14 which produces an output
`signal each time the 40 Hz.input signal received from
`the generator 13 passes through zero. The output from
`the zero-crossing detectoris fed to a counter 15, which
`produces an output pulse train having a pulse repetition 55
`rate of 40 pulses per second,this pulse train being fed to
`the clock input terminal of a latch 16 which, in a real-
`ized embodiment was constituted by a commercially
`available semiconductor chip sold under the designa-
`tion 74HC74.
`The outputpulse train from the counter15 is also fed,
`as a data synchronization signal, to the computer 10 via
`a buffer 17. Thus, the computer 10 can be operated in
`synchronism with the 40 Hz. generator 13 and supplyits
`output, labeled “modulation in”to the data terminal (D) 65
`of the latch 16 via a buffer 18. The output terminal (Q)
`of the latch 16 is connected to the control input terminal
`of an electronic switch 20 which receives a constant 40
`
`60
`
`4,931,871
`
`8
`Hz. input, at its signal input terminal, from the 40 Hz.
`generator 13, via a buffer 21. In operation, the elec-
`tronic switch 20 passes controlled bursts of 40 Hz. sig-
`nals to a linear mixer 22, under control of the computer
`10. The computer10, in the exemplary realized embodi-
`ment, was programmed, using assembly and C lan-
`guages as set out in the section labeled “Programs”
`hereinbelow.It is to be understood that other programs
`may be used to achieve the same endsandin FIG. 2 so
`that the 40 Hz.signals are selectively passed to mixer 22
`as required.
`A baseband audio signal, from a live source or from
`playback of one or more previously recorded program
`segments is fed via a conventional input connection to a
`high pass filter 23, which passes signals above 116 Hz.
`The output from the high pass filter 23 is fed to a 40 Hz.
`notchfilter 24, via a buffer 25. The action ofthefilters
`23 and 24, acting together result in any 40 Hz.signal
`which appears in the baseband audio being 30 d.b.
`below other signal components. Thus, any 40 Hz.sig-
`nals whichare passed, via the electronicstitch 20, to the
`linear mixer 22 are virtually free of possible interference
`from signals of 40 Hz. which may be in conventional
`audio feeds.
`The output from the linear mixer 22 appears as a line
`output, with encoded 40 Hz.-based signals thereon. This
`mixed output is preferably rerecorded for distribution
`to a network (wired or unwired) and/or individual
`selected broadcast stations for later broadcast. Alterna-
`tively, the line output with the encoded 40 Hz. signals
`could be fed live to distribution lines for either immedi-
`ate broadcast or remote recording for later broadcast.
`Once the program segments, which mayinclude both
`commercial messages and entertainment segments, have
`been modified and/or produ