US 8646001

US Patent 8646001, titled "Signal processing apparatus and methods," was issued on February 4, 2014, from an application filed on May 19, 1995. The inventors are John Christopher Harvey and James William Cuddihy. The current assignee is Contentnexus LLC, having been reassigned from Personalized Media Communications LLC on June 9, 2025.

Abstract:
The patent describes an integrated system for communicating programming, encompassing computer processing, communications, television, radio, and other electronic communications. It focuses on automating the handling, recording, and retransmitting of various types of programming, and on regulating, metering, and monitoring its availability, use, and usage. The system allows for organized multi-channel communications and the transmission of standardized programming that is user-friendly. It also enables the transmission of data and control instructions within the same information stream to various apparatus at a subscriber station, causing computers to generate and transmit programming, and receiver apparatus to operate based on information received at widely separated times.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a method for providing a combined medium presentation to a plurality of subscriber stations. It involves transmitting a main program, embedding control signals and data in that program, and sending this combined signal to multiple subscriber stations. At each station, the control signals trigger a local computer to generate personalized information and then overlay this information onto the main program for display. The critical aspect is that the local content is specific to each individual subscriber and not necessarily known at the program's origin. The patent emphasizes the synchronization of displaying personalized content with relevant portions of the main program.
• Claim 26: This claim outlines a signal processing apparatus. This apparatus is designed to receive programming transmissions, including embedded information. It features a detector to identify the embedded information, a decryptor to process encrypted portions, and a controller. The controller manages the operation of the apparatus based on the embedded information and also has the ability to transfer processed signals to external devices, and manage data recording, and communication with remote sites. A key feature is the programmable random access memory (PRAM) controller which allows for flexible modification of operating instructions.
• Claim 38: This claim details a method for controlling and monitoring programming at a plurality of subscriber stations. It involves transmitting programming with embedded signals that contain instructions. At each subscriber station, a signal processor receives these signals, performs operations based on them (such as decrypting, recording, or controlling other devices), and generates a record of the programming's availability and usage. These records are then automatically transferred to remote stations for billing and statistical analysis. The method also includes the ability to modify the programming or control signals based on the collected usage data.
• Claim 49: This claim describes a method of providing a combined medium presentation to a plurality of user stations, specifically focusing on the interaction between a broadcast stream and local content. It involves transmitting a programming stream containing control instructions. At a user station, a receiver processes the stream, and a computer system, in response to the received instructions, generates user-specific information. This user-specific information is then combined with the received programming stream to create a personalized output for the user, with the combination being synchronized by the control instructions.

I did not find any specific dockets for patent 8646001 in the CAFC 2026 dockets during my search. While there are general updates on CAFC activity in April 2026, no specific litigation involving this patent was identified.

Known litigation involving US patent 8646001 includes:

• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
• Case Number: 2:26-cv-00323
• Filing Date: Not explicitly provided in the available patent text or search results.
• Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly provided in the available patent text or search results.
• Defendant(s): Not explicitly provided in the available patent text or search results.
• Outcome or Current Status: The case is noted as "US case filed in Texas Eastern District Court," but further details regarding its outcome or current status are not provided in the available information.

The Google Patents page for US8646001 also indicates that "Family has litigation" and points to a "First worldwide family litigation filed" via a Darts-ip link, but specific case details beyond this general statement are not directly accessible from the provided information.

Proceedings overview

There is no PTAB activity on file for US patent 8646001.

Strategic summary

As of today, 2026-05-30, there are no AIA trial proceedings (IPR, PGR, or CBM) on file for US Patent 8646001. This means all claims of the patent remain untested by the PTAB.

The absence of PTAB activity could be a signal that the patent has not been extensively asserted, or that prior assertions have been resolved without the need for PTAB challenges. For a defendant, this means there is no estoppel landscape established by previous PTAB decisions, leaving all prior art grounds open for challenge.

Recommended next steps

Since there is no PTAB activity for US Patent 8646001, a potential defendant facing assertion of this patent has a full range of prior art arguments available if they choose to pursue an AIA trial. If a demand letter cites specific claims, a defendant could consider filing an IPR petition to challenge the patentability of those claims based on relevant prior art.

Inventors

• John Christopher Harvey
• James William Cuddihy

The employer of the inventors at the time of filing is not determinable from the provided patent text.

Original assignee

The original assignee, as indicated on the issued patent and the application filing, was Personalized Media Communications LLC.

Personalized Media Communications LLC's primary line of business, based on the patent's description, appears to be related to signal processing, content distribution, interactive television, and managing/monitoring programming use, likely involving personalized content delivery and licensing thereof. The patent itself describes an "integrated system of methods and apparatus for communicating programming," suggesting the company developed or licensed technology for such systems, rather than directly shipping a consumer product embodying the claims. The patent notes that "One such system is the IBM Personal Computer... with an IBM Asynchronous Communications Adapter installed in one expansion slot and a PC-MicroKey Model 1300 System," implying the invention could be implemented using existing hardware.

The current legal status of the patent, according to Google Patents, is "Expired - Fee Related".

Assignment timeline

• 2000-09-22 (executed) / recorded 2000-09-22 — Reel N/A
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: HARVEY, JOHN C., CUDDIHY, JAMES W.
  • Assignee: PERSONALIZED MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, L.L.C.
  • Correspondent: Not determinable from the provided source.
  • Context: Transfer from inventors to original assignee.
• 2025-06-09 (executed) / recorded 2025-06-09 — Reel N/A
  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: PERSONALIZED MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
  • Assignee: CONTENTNEXUS LLC
  • Correspondent: Not determinable from the provided source.
  • Context: Transfer to new assignee.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 8646001
    1995 : Application filed by PMC LLC
    2000 : Inventors assigned to PMC LLC
    2014 : Patent granted
    2025 : Assigned to Contentnexus LLC
    2026 : US case filed Texas Eastern

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The patent was transferred from Personalized Media Communications, LLC to CONTENTNEXUS LLC on 2025-06-09. "CONTENTNEXUS LLC" has a generic name often associated with patent licensing or assertion entities, and there is no indication that Contentnexus LLC develops or sells products.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Personalized Media Communications LLC (PMC) is a known Non-Practicing Entity (NPE). The Google Patents page explicitly states "Family has litigation" and links to "Unified Patents Litigation Data," indicating a US case (2:26-cv-00323) was filed in the Texas Eastern District Court. Unified Patents is an organization that tracks NPE activity, and its listing of litigation for this patent is a strong indicator of assertion.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Not present. Correspondent information is not available in the provided patent text or legal event snippets.
4. Cascading transfers — Not present. Only two distinct assignment events are recorded (inventors to PMC, then PMC to Contentnexus), which does not constitute cascading transfers.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The assignment to Contentnexus LLC occurred on 2025-06-09. A US case (2:26-cv-00323) was filed in the Texas Eastern District Court, but its specific filing date is not provided. If the litigation was initiated within six months of the June 9, 2025, assignment date, this signal would be present.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no information to suggest that the patent was sold as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Privateering — Not present. No information is provided to suggest privateering.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The current assignee is Contentnexus LLC, not a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is supported by two strong signals: the presence of a known Non-Practicing Entity, Personalized Media Communications LLC, in the chain, and the explicit mention of active litigation for this patent family by Unified Patents (US case 2:26-cv-00323). Furthermore, the recent transfer to CONTENTNEXUS LLC, an entity with a generic name often associated with licensing or assertion, reinforces the high confidence of NPE activity.

For verification, see the Google Patents record: https://patents.google.com/patent/[US8646001](/patent/US8646001)/en and the associated Unified Patents litigation data.

The USPTO provides several tools for searching patents, including Patent Public Search and Patent Center. These tools allow users to search databases of patents and patent application publications.

US patent 8646001, titled "Signal processing apparatus and methods," has several prior art documents cited. The patent itself mentions several prior art limitations in its detailed description. The most relevant prior art documents cited in US8646001B1 are:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,490 to Harvey et al.

• Full Citation: US4694490A
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority date: 1981-11-03 (This patent claims priority from US06/317,510, filed on 1981-11-03).
• Brief Description: While the full description isn't available in the provided text, US8646001B1 itself claims priority from this patent (US4694490A), implying a strong relationship. It is likely that US4694490A describes an earlier iteration or foundational aspects of the signal processing apparatus and methods. The current patent builds upon it.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given that US8646001B1 claims priority from US4694490A, the earlier patent could potentially anticipate many or all claims of US8646001B1, depending on the specific differences and new inventive steps introduced in 8646001. A detailed claim comparison would be necessary to determine exact anticipation.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,522 to Lambert

• Full Citation: US4381522A
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the patent states it "describes a cable television system controlled by a minicomputer that responds to signals transmitted from viewers by telephone."
• Brief Description: Describes a cable television system where a minicomputer responds to viewer signals transmitted by telephone. The computer generates a schedule of prerecorded local origination programs based on viewer input, creates a video image of this schedule, transmits it over a cable channel, and then actuates video players to transmit the requested programming.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates systems for user-requested content and scheduling in a television context. Claims in US8646001B1 related to interactive programming selection, content scheduling, and remote control of content delivery (e.g., in systems involving user input for program selection) might be impacted. The current patent distinguishes itself by stating this prior art "has no capacity to schedule automatically or transmit any programming other than that loaded immediately at the play heads of the controlled video players. It has no capacity to load the video players or identify what programming is loaded on the players or verify that scheduled programs are played correctly. It has no capacity to cause the video players to record programming from any source. It has no capacity to receive programming transmissions or process received transmissions in any way. It has no capacity to operate under the control of instructions transmitted by broadcasters. It has no capacity to insert signals that convey information to or control, in any way, the automatic operation of ultimate receiver station apparatus other than television receivers."

3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,480 to Bourassin et al.

• Full Citation: US4337480A
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the patent states it "describes a dynamic interconnection system for connecting at least one television receiver to a plurality of television peripheral units."
• Brief Description: Describes a dynamic interconnection system that allows a viewer to automatically connect and disconnect television peripheral units without manual switching or re-cabling. It also allows for "image-within-image" superimposition of a secondary image from a second peripheral unit onto the primary image on the television display.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates systems related to connecting and controlling multiple peripheral units with a television, and the display of combined visual information (e.g., overlaying images). Claims in US8646001B1 related to controlling multiple apparatus at a subscriber station or combining media for display could be challenged.

4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,925 to Freeman et al.

• Full Citation: US4264925A
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the patent states it "describes a multi-channel programming transmission system wherein subscribers may select manually among related programming alternatives transmitted simultaneously on separate channels."
• Brief Description: Describes a multi-channel programming transmission system where subscribers can manually select among simultaneously transmitted programming alternatives on separate channels.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates multi-channel transmission and manual channel selection. Claims in US8646001B1 related to providing multiple channels of programming and allowing subscriber selection might be anticipated. However, US8646001B1 distinguishes itself by stating this prior art "has no capacity for interconnecting or operating a system at any time other than the time when the order to do so is entered manually at the system or remote keyboard. It has no capacity for acting on instructions transmitted by broadcasters to interconnect, actuate or tune systems peripheral to a television receiver or to actuate a television receiver or automatically change channels received by a receiver. It has no capacity for coordinating the programming content transmitted by any given peripheral system with any other programming transmitted to a television receiver. It has no capacity for controlling two separate systems such as, for example, an automatic radio and television stereo simulcast. It has no capacity for selectively connecting radio receivers to radio peripherals such as computers or printers or speakers or for connecting computers to computer peripherals (except perhaps a television set)."

5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,851 to Haselwood et al.

• Full Citation: US4025851A
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the patent states it "describes a system that monitors by means of embedded digital signals".
• Brief Description: Describes a system for monitoring programming by means of embedded digital signals.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates the use of embedded digital signals for monitoring programming. Claims in US8646001B1 related to embedding signals in programming for identification and monitoring purposes could be impacted.

6. U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,391 to Crosby

• Full Citation: US3845391A
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the patent states it "monitors by means of audio codes that are only 'substantially inaudible'".
• Brief Description: Describes a system for monitoring programming using audio codes that are "substantially inaudible."
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates monitoring programming using inaudible audio signals. Claims in US8646001B1 related to embedding signals in audio portions of transmissions, particularly those that are not normally audible, could be impacted.

7. U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,804 to Greenberg

• Full Citation: US4547804A
• Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated, but the patent states it "automatically monitors a plurality of channels by switching sequentially among them and that includes capacity to monitor audio and visual quality".
• Brief Description: Describes a system that automatically monitors a plurality of channels by sequentially switching among them and includes the capacity to monitor audio and visual quality.
• Potentially Anticipating Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent anticipates systems for monitoring multiple channels and assessing audio/visual quality. Claims in US8646001B1 related to scanning multiple frequencies/channels and monitoring programming availability and quality could be impacted. The current patent states that this prior art "has capacity to monitor only single broadcast stations, channels or units and lacks capacity to monitor more than one channel at a time or to monitor the combining of media. At any given monitor station, it has had capacity to monitor either what is transmitted over one or more channels or what is received on one or more receivers but not both. It has assumed monitored signals of particular format in particular transmission locations and has lacked capacity to vary formats or locations or to distinguish and act on the absence of signals or to interpret and process in any fashion signals that appear in monitored locations that are not monitored signals. It has lacked capacity to identify encrypted signals then decrypt them. It has lacked capacity to record and also transfer information to a remote geographic location simultaneously."

The obviousness of US patent 8646001 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 requires identifying a combination of prior art references that would have motivated a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) to arrive at the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success. The patent itself describes several prior art systems and their limitations, which serve as explicit motivations for the advancements claimed in US8646001.

Let's analyze Claim 1 of US8646001, which describes an apparatus for a subscriber station:
"1. An apparatus for use at a subscriber station for receiving a multi-channel transmission that contains programming and that includes a plurality of signals that are embedded in said programming, said apparatus comprising:
a receiver configured to receive said multi-channel transmission;
a signal detector configured to detect said embedded signals and to output said detected embedded signals;
a processor configured to receive said detected embedded signals and to process at least some of said detected embedded signals;
a local storage medium configured to store data; and
a transmitter configured to transmit data from said local storage medium to a remote site;
wherein said detected embedded signals are used by said apparatus to perform one or more operations, including:
controlling a connection of external apparatus to said apparatus;
controlling an actuation of external apparatus that is connected to said apparatus;
tuning said receiver to a particular channel of said multi-channel transmission;
processing programming content of said multi-channel transmission in a manner determined by said embedded signals;
recording programming content of said multi-channel transmission to said local storage medium in a manner determined by said embedded signals;
decrypting programming content of said multi-channel transmission in a manner determined by said embedded signals;
or controlling retransmission of programming content from said local storage medium."

A strong combination of prior art references that would render Claim 1 obvious includes:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,851 to Haselwood et al. (or U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,391 to Crosby, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,804 to Greenberg): These references teach the concept of embedding digital signals within broadcast programming for monitoring and identification purposes. [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "One system that monitors by means of embedded digital signals is described in U.S. patent to Haselwood, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,851.", "Another that monitors by means of audio codes that are only “substantially inaudible” is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,391 to Crosby.", "a third that automatically monitors a plurality of channels by switching sequentially among them and that includes capacity to monitor audio and visual quality is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,804 to Greenberg."] The patent itself highlights a limitation of this prior art: "television has only so much capacity for transmitting signals outside the visible image; it is inefficient for such signals to serve only one function." [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "the commercial objective of the aforementioned monitoring systems of Crosby, Haselwood et. al., and Greenberg is to provide independent audits to advertisers and others who pay for programming transmissions. All require embedding signals in programming that are used only to identify programming. Greenberg, for example, requires that a digital signal be transmitted at a particular place on a select line of each frame of a television program. But television has only so much capacity for transmitting signals outside the visible image; it is inefficient for such signals to serve only one function; and broadcasters can foresee alternate potential for this capacity that may be more profitable to them."] This explicitly provides a motivation for a POSITA to use these embedded signals for multiple functions, including control.

2. Dataspeed Corporation/Equatorial Communications Company systems: These systems transmit real-time financial data to microcomputers equipped with receivers (modios) and decryptors, where subscribers can program their apparatus to select data of interest. [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "the Dataspeed Corporation division of Lotus Development Corporation of Cambridge, Mass. transmits real-time financial data over radio frequencies to microcomputers equipped with devices called “modios” that combine the features of radio receivers, modems, and decryptors.", "the Equatorial Communications Company of Mountain View, Calif. transmits to similarly equipped receiver systems by satellite.", "Each subscriber programs his subscriber station apparatus to select particular data of interest."] These systems include local processors (microcomputers) and local storage (disk drives) and decryptors. The patent notes their limitation: "It only transmits data; it does not control data processing. No system is preprogrammed to simultaneously control a plurality of central processor units... None has any capacity to cause subscriber station computers to process received data, let alone in ways that are not inputted by the subscribers." [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "This prior art is limited. It only transmits data; it does not control data processing. No system is preprogrammed to simultaneously control a plurality of central processor units, operating systems, and pluralities of computer peripheral units. None has capacity to cause simultaneous generation of user specific information at a plurality of receiver stations. None has any capacity to cause subscriber station computers to process received data, let alone in ways that are not inputted by the subscribers. None has any capacity to explain automatically why any given information might be of particular interest to any subscriber or why any subscriber might wish to select information that is not selected or how any subscriber might wish to change the way selected information is processed."] This highlights the motivation to enable broadcast-driven control over local processing.

3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,480 et al. to Bourassin: This patent describes a system for dynamically interconnecting a television receiver with multiple peripheral units and performing "image-within-image" superimposition. [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,480 et al. to Bourassin describes a dynamic interconnection system for connecting at least one television receiver to a plurality of television peripheral units.", "image-within-image the viewer can superimpose a secondary image from a second peripheral unit upon the primary image on the television display."] The patent notes a limitation: "It has no capacity for acting on instructions transmitted by broadcasters to interconnect, actuate or tune systems peripheral to a television receiver or to actuate a television receiver or automatically change channels received by a receiver." [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "This prior art too, is limited. It has no capacity for interconnecting or operating a system at any time other than the time when the order to do so is entered manually at the system or remote keyboard. It has no capacity for acting on instructions transmitted by broadcasters to interconnect, actuate or tune systems peripheral to a television receiver or to actuate a television receiver or automatically change channels received by a receiver."]

4. Video tape recorders (VTRs) and "interactive video" systems: These systems provide capacity for delayed recording of television transmissions (manual input for VTRs) and locating/transmitting prerecorded programming and data from discs (interactive video). [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "Video tape recorders have capacity for automatic delayed recording of television transmissions on the basis of instructions input manually by viewers.", "So-called “interactive video” systems have capacity for locating prerecorded television programming on a given disc and transmitting it to television receivers and locating prerecorded digital data on the same disc and transmitting them to computers."] The patent identifies a limitation: "It has no capacity for automatically embedding signals in and/or removing embedded signals from a television transmission then recording the transmission. It has no capacity for controlling the connection or actuation or tuning of external apparatus. It has no capacity for retransmitting prerecorded programming and controlling the decryption of said programming, let alone doing so on the basis of signals that are embedded in said programming that contain keys for the decryption of said programming." [cite: The full patent text, Definitions: "This prior art too, is limited. It has no capacity for automatically embedding signals in and/or removing embedded signals from a television transmission then recording the transmission. It has no capacity for controlling the connection or actuation or tuning of external apparatus. It has no capacity for retransmitting prerecorded programming and controlling the decryption of said programming, let alone doing so on the basis of signals that are embedded in said programming that contain keys for the decryption of said programming."]

Motivation to Combine:
A POSITA, aware of the desire to enhance the interactivity and personalization of broadcast media (a long-felt need indicated by the extensive limitations of prior art systems in this domain as described by the patent itself), would have been motivated to combine these known technologies.

The central motivation comes from the patent's own recognition that existing embedded signals (Haselwood et al.) are inefficient because they serve only one function (identification). A POSITA would readily recognize the benefit of expanding the function of these embedded signals to carry control instructions.

Specifically, a POSITA would combine:

• The capability of Haselwood et al. (embedding digital signals in broadcasts) with the goal of making these signals carry more than just identification data; namely, control instructions.
• The Dataspeed/Equatorial concept of transmitting data to local microcomputers for processing and selection, noting the limitation that processing is user-programmed. The motivation would be to use the newly multi-functional embedded signals to remotely control these local microcomputers to process data in broadcaster-determined ways, and even to generate user-specific information, thus overcoming Dataspeed/Equatorial's limitation.
• Bourassin's teaching of dynamic peripheral interconnection and "image-within-image" overlay. The patent explicitly states that Bourassin lacks control by broadcaster-transmitted instructions. The motivation would be to use the embedded control signals (from Haselwood et al., now carrying control instructions) to automatically trigger the peripheral connections, actuations, and visual overlays described by Bourassin.
• The recording and retransmission functions of VTRs and interactive video systems. The motivation would be to use the embedded control signals (from Haselwood et al.) to enable broadcast-controlled recording, playback, and retransmission, thereby automating manual processes and enabling more sophisticated content management, addressing the limitations of prior VTRs.
• The existing decryptors and "addressable" systems (Dataspeed/Equatorial, general prior art) would provide the basis for the decryption element. The motivation would be to integrate the embedded control signals (Haselwood et al.) to dynamically manage decryption, including passing decryption keys or controlling the decryption process for combined media, to address the specific shortcomings of prior decryptor systems mentioned in the patent.

Obviousness Analysis based on Claim 1 elements:

• Receiver, signal detector, processor, local storage medium, transmitter: These individual components are all found or clearly implied in the cited prior art (e.g., receivers from any broadcast system, signal detectors from Haselwood et al., processors and local storage from Dataspeed/Equatorial microcomputers with disk drives, and transmitters implied by "ratings" systems for reporting or Lambert's two-way system).
• "wherein said detected embedded signals are used by said apparatus to perform one or more operations": This is the core of the invention.
  • Controlling a connection/actuation of external apparatus; tuning said receiver to a particular channel: Bourassin teaches dynamic interconnection of peripherals. Freeman et al. teach multi-channel selection. The explicit limitation noted in the patent regarding Bourassin/Freeman is their lack of control by "instructions transmitted by broadcasters." A POSITA would find it obvious to apply the concept of embedding digital signals (Haselwood et al.) to carry these control instructions, thereby automating the functions described in Bourassin and Freeman based on broadcaster input.
  • Processing programming content... in a manner determined by said embedded signals: Dataspeed/Equatorial involves local computer processing, but it's user-programmed. The patent notes its lack of capacity to control processing not input by subscribers. Combining the embedded control signals (Haselwood et al.) with a local processor (Dataspeed/Equatorial's microcomputer) to direct specific processing of content (e.g., generating and overlaying user-specific graphics as described in the 'Wall Street Week' example of US8646001, using Bourassin's overlay technique) would be a straightforward extension for a POSITA seeking to enhance broadcast interactivity and personalization.
  • Recording programming content... to said local storage medium...; controlling retransmission of programming content from said local storage medium: VTRs and interactive video systems provide recording and retransmission capabilities. The limitation is the lack of automatic control via embedded signals. A POSITA would find it obvious to integrate the embedded control signals (Haselwood et al.) to trigger and manage these recording and retransmission functions automatically, similar to how addressable systems control decoders.
  • Decrypting programming content... in a manner determined by said embedded signals: Dataspeed/Equatorial and other prior art include decryptors and addressable systems for controlling access. While the patent highlights limitations regarding combined media decryption and automatic key identification, the fundamental idea of using control signals (now embedded signals) to manage a decryptor's operation for conditional access would be obvious to a POSITA.

In summary, the shortcomings of the prior art, as articulated within US8646001 itself, provide ample motivation for a POSITA to combine the existing concepts of embedded signaling, local data processing/storage, peripheral control, video overlay, recording, retransmission, and decryption. The primary inventive step, as claimed, appears to be the application of embedded signals not just for identification, but for comprehensive, broadcaster-initiated control of various automated functions at a subscriber's station, including the generation and display of user-specific content. Given the known components and the articulated problems in the art, this combination would have been obvious to a POSITA.

For US patent 8646001, here's a detailed breakdown of its patent term and family information:

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) can extend the term of a patent to compensate for certain delays caused by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) during prosecution. These provisions apply to utility or plant applications filed on or after May 29, 2000. Common reasons for PTA include the USPTO failing to:

• Issue a first Office Action or notice of allowance within 14 months of filing.
• Act within four months of an applicant's response to an Office Action.
• Issue the patent within four months of payment of the issue fee.
• Issue the patent within three years of the actual filing date of the application.

The patent application for US8646001 was filed on May 19, 1995. Since the patent was filed prior to May 29, 2000, it is not eligible for Patent Term Adjustment under the provisions that add time for USPTO delays.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE)

Patent Term Extensions (PTE) are available under the Hatch-Waxman Act (35 U.S.C. § 156) for patents claiming certain human drugs, medical devices, animal drugs, veterinary biological products, and food or color additive products. This aims to restore some of the patent term lost due to delays in obtaining regulatory approval from agencies like the FDA.

There is no information within the patent document or the provided search results to suggest that US patent 8646001 is for a product subject to regulatory review by the FDA or a similar agency. Therefore, it is highly unlikely to have received any Patent Term Extensions.

Continuation and Divisional Applications

• Continuation Application: A continuation patent application allows an applicant to pursue claims based on the same specification and drawings as a previously filed "parent" application. It is a new application with new claims but shares the same priority date as the parent.
• Divisional Application: A divisional patent application presents claims that were previously filed with the parent application but were required by the USPTO to be withdrawn or canceled due to a restriction requirement.

The provided information does not explicitly state any continuation or divisional applications directly linked to US patent 8646001. However, the patent claims priority from US06/317,510, filed on November 3, 1981, and mentions US Pat. No. 4,694,490 to Harvey et al. as a prior art document from which it claims priority. This indicates that US8646001 is part of a patent family, but the specific type of application (continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part) is not detailed in the provided snippets. [cite: The full patent text, Prior art: "1981-11-03 Priority claimed from US06/317,510"]

Related Family Members

The patent explicitly states it claims priority from US06/317,510, filed on November 3, 1981, and cites US4694490A. This indicates that US8646001 is part of a larger patent family, with US4694490A being an earlier related patent. A patent family is a collection of patent documents that cover the same invention and have at least one common inventor. While a comprehensive list of all family members (including international filings) would require a dedicated patent family search tool, the provided information confirms at least one earlier related application. [cite: The full patent text, Prior art: "1981-11-03 Priority claimed from US06/317,510", "patent/US4694490A/en"]

Projected Expiration Date

For US utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term typically expires 20 years from the earliest filing date of the patent application, including any priority claims to earlier applications.

US patent 8646001 was filed on May 19, 1995, and claims priority from US06/317,510, filed on November 3, 1981. To determine the expiration date, the 20-year term is calculated from the filing date of the earliest related application. Therefore, the 20-year term would typically run from November 3, 1981.

However, the Google Patents page for US8646001 lists an "Anticipated expiration" date of 2031-02-04. This suggests that either:

1. The patent was filed under pre-GATT provisions, where patents issued before June 8, 1995, had a term of 17 years from the issue date or 20 years from the filing date, whichever was later. However, US8646001 was granted in 2014. [cite: 17, The full patent text, Publication date: "2014-02-04"]
2. There is a complex calculation involving other factors not immediately apparent from the provided text, such as a terminal disclaimer or other specific circumstances.
3. The patent, despite its filing date, falls under a provision that resulted in a longer term.

Given that the Google Patents page explicitly states the anticipated expiration as 2031-02-04, and the patent was granted on February 4, 2014, if the 20-year term from the earliest priority date (November 3, 1981) were strictly applied, the patent would have expired around November 3, 2001. The listed expiration date of 2031-02-04 is significantly later. It's also important to note that the current legal status is "Expired - Fee Related" as of the current date of 2026-06-03. This means that despite any calculated term, the patent is no longer in force due to unpaid maintenance fees. [cite: The full patent text, Legal status: "Expired - Fee Related", Legal status: "2031-02-04 Anticipated expiration"]