Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating and collecting viewing statistics in a cable television system is provided. For example, data relating to television channels being viewed at remote terminals may be generated by each remote terminal and then collected by a system manager. A system manager transmits one or more record times downstream to one or more remote terminals indicating a future point in time at which the terminal is to record the viewing statistics. The remote terminals store the one or more record times in memory and when the record time matches the current real time, the remote terminals store in memory the viewing statistics. Thereafter, in response to a polling signal from the system manager, the set top terminals transmit the previously recorded viewing statistics along with a time code corresponding to the time at which the viewing statistics were recorded upstream to the system manager, and the system manager processes this information accordingly. In one embodiment, the viewing statistics are generated from status information within each remote terminal. In another embodiment, the viewing statistics are generated from user inputs to each remote terminal. In one embodiment, several collection slots exist in each remote terminal for receiving and maintaining more than one record time at a time. In another embodiment, the system manager transmits record times and polling signals for each particular collection slot independently from and at different times than the other collection slots.

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First Claim