Prior art

The most relevant prior art for US patent 8,804,727, based on its own discussion of prior art, includes several U.S. patents that address various aspects of signal processing, content delivery, and monitoring. The patent US8804727 itself claims priority from US06/317,510, which is related to US Patent 4,694,490, indicating this as a foundational reference.

Here is an analysis of the identified prior art references:

1. U.S. Patent 4,381,522 to Lambert

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 4,381,522, "Cable television system with viewer controlled programming," invented by Albert L. Lambert.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: April 26, 1983; Filed: August 26, 1980.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a cable television system where a minicomputer controls programming based on viewer preferences received via telephone. The computer generates and transmits a schedule, then actuates preloaded video players (tape, disc, film) to transmit programs to designated cable channels.
• Potential Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102: US8804727 distinguishes itself from Lambert by noting several limitations in the prior art. Lambert's system "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 also lacks the ability to load video players, identify programming loaded on them, verify correct program playback, or record programming from any source. Crucially, it "has no capacity to operate under the control of instructions transmitted by broadcasters" and cannot "insert signals that convey information to or control, in any way, the automatic operation of ultimate receiver station apparatus other than television receivers." Therefore, claims in US8804727 that involve automatic and flexible scheduling, comprehensive control over video players, recording capabilities, operation via broadcaster-transmitted instructions, or control of non-television receiver apparatus would likely not be anticipated by Lambert. However, general claims relating to cable television systems with viewer-controlled programming and schedule generation might find overlap with Lambert.

2. U.S. Patent 4,025,851 to Haselwood et al.

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 4,025,851, "Television program monitor system," invented by Henry F. Haselwood et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: May 24, 1977; Filed: December 27, 1974.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system for monitoring television programming by means of embedded digital signals.
• Potential Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102: US8804727 identifies limitations in this prior art, stating it "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." It also "lacked capacity to identify encrypted signals then decrypt them" and "lacked capacity to record and also transfer information to a remote geographic location simultaneously." Furthermore, the embedded signals are "used only to identify programming." Claims in US8804727 directed to simultaneous multi-channel or multi-media monitoring, decryption of encrypted signals, simultaneous recording and remote data transfer, or using embedded signals for complex control functions beyond mere identification would likely not be anticipated by Haselwood. Basic claims regarding monitoring programs via embedded digital signals for identification could be anticipated.

3. U.S. Patent 3,845,391 to Crosby

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 3,845,391, "Program monitoring method and apparatus," invented by Philip B. Crosby.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: October 29, 1974; Filed: August 3, 1973.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system that monitors programming using "substantially inaudible" audio codes.
• Potential Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Similar to Haselwood, US8804727 highlights that Crosby's system "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." It also "lacked capacity to identify encrypted signals then decrypt them" and "lacked capacity to record and also transfer information to a remote geographic location simultaneously." The embedded signals are primarily "used only to identify programming." Claims in US8804727 that involve simultaneous monitoring of multiple channels or mixed media, decryption, simultaneous recording and remote data transfer, or more sophisticated uses of embedded signals (e.g., in non-audio or different audio ranges for control or personalized content) would likely not be anticipated by Crosby. Basic program monitoring using inaudible audio codes for identification might be anticipated.

4. U.S. Patent 4,547,804 to Greenberg

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 4,547,804, "Automatic broadcast monitoring system with audio-visual quality analysis," invented by William J. Greenberg.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: October 15, 1985; Filed: April 29, 1981.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system that automatically monitors a plurality of broadcast channels by switching sequentially among them, and includes the capacity to monitor audio and visual quality.
• Potential Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102: While Greenberg monitors multiple channels, US8804727 notes that it "lacks capacity to monitor more than one channel at a time or to monitor the combining of media." It also "lacked capacity to identify encrypted signals then decrypt them" and "lacked capacity to record and also transfer information to a remote geographic location simultaneously." US8804727 specifically criticizes Greenberg's reliance on transmitting a digital signal "at a particular place on a select line of each frame of a television program," deeming it inefficient and functionally limited. Therefore, claims in US8804727 relating to simultaneous multi-channel or multi-media monitoring, encryption/decryption, simultaneous recording and remote data transfer, or flexible embedded signal patterns and functions that are not limited to fixed locations for identification would likely not be anticipated by Greenberg. General claims for automatic broadcast monitoring with sequential channel switching and quality analysis could be anticipated.

5. U.S. Patent 4,694,490 to Harvey et al.

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 4,694,490, "Broadcast signal processing apparatus and methods," invented by John C. Harvey, et al.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued: September 15, 1987; Filed: November 3, 1981.
• Brief Description: This patent is a parent or related application to US8804727, sharing the same priority date of November 3, 1981 (via application US06/317,510). As such, it likely covers the foundational concepts of an "integrated system of methods and apparatus for communicating programming" that forms the basis of US8804727. This includes the general idea of using embedded signals in programming to control various receiver station apparatus and to process information.
• Potential Anticipation under 35 U.S.C. § 102: Given that US4694490A shares a priority date with US8804727 and is explicitly cited as a priority claim, it is highly probable that the broadest claims of US8804727, particularly those covering the fundamental system architecture and methods for signal processing, embedding signals for control, and generating user-specific information, would be present in or anticipated by US4694490A. Any claims in US8804727 that are not sufficiently distinguished by novel features or improvements over US4694490A would likely be anticipated or rendered obvious. The claims of US8804727 would therefore focus on more specific implementations, enhancements, or novel combinations of the broader concepts disclosed in US4694490A.