Apparatus and method for tracking the playing of VCR programs

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 5488409
SERIAL NO

08122794

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A video tape player monitors the selection habits of a viewer selecting from a plurality of video tapes. Each video tape contains a plurality of programs. A first type of video tape has a title information symbol contained in a predetermined interval of the tape, e.g. the vertical blanking interval, for each program on the tape. A clock provides the time of occurrence of commands. A detector receives user inputted commands for controlling the movement of the video tape such as play, record, stop. The user inputted commands comprise a start play command to start moving, in a longitudinal direction, the video tape proximate to a magnetic head so that the magnetic head can detect the programs on the video tape and a stop command to stop moving the tape. A controller is coupled to the detector for commanding the motor in response to the detected user inputted commands and for reading the time of occurrence of the commands. A first memory stores a title information symbol for each program on a second type of video tape. A second memory stores the title information symbol and the time of occurrence of the detected user inputted commands. The contents of the second memory is provided to an external analyzer.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ROVI GUIDES INC2160 GOLD STREET SAN JOSE CA 95002

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Kwoh, Daniel S 3975 Hampstead Rd., La Canada, Flintridge, CA 91011 94 7424
Yuen, Henry C P.O. Box 1159, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 151 13513

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