Importance

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Abstract

A satellite audio broadcasting system for network programming and broad-based advertising includes a network uplink facility and a plurality of local radio station downlink facilities. The system permits pre-empting of network audio by the local station at any time, but automatically and constantly monitors the local broadcast, comparing it to the network audio, and automatically records any periods of departure. Computers are employed at uplink and downlinks, and from time to time the uplink causes each downlink to transfer to it all data relating to such periods of departure for the subject period of time. Using the data this uplink can automatically compute billing to advertisers and payments to subscriber local stations based on the amount of advertising actually broadcast by the stations. Verification is thereby fully automatic and is substantially tamper-proof. Digital databursts preferably are transmitted via the satellite along with the network audio for separation, decoding and use at the downlink. Such data may contain, for example, a program pre-schedule for the coming day and/or simultaneous identifying information at the time a program or advertising is aired, for downlink logging, and individual accessing codes for network control or communication with specific downlink affiliates.

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First Claim