Abstract: Digital information is encoded in the video portion of a television signal such that "n" (n is an integer) bits of the digital information are carried by each successive frame in a group of frames. The digital information is encoded by modulating a carrier signal, using, for example, either amplitude shift keying (ASK) or frequency shift keying (FSK), and the modulated carrier is then added to the video signal selectively, only in portions of the television program that (a) are not likely to be perceptible by a viewer, and (b) are of sufficient intensity to transmit the data. The video signal including the encoded digital data, may be transmitted, in real time, to a television receiver, or recorded for later playback.

Abstract: A system for processing a database-queried call uses the call processing capabilities of a carrier's database and a subscriber's database as part of a total communication switching system. Generally, origination information such as as ANI, dialed number and caller entered information are forwarded by the originating switch to the carrier's database which sends them to the subscriber's database. The latter uses prestored programs and callers' related information to formulate a processing label for the call. The processing label is comprised of i) a routing label which provides input to the carrier's database to select a destination number for the call ii) an end point label which includes information to be passed to the subscriber's premise equipment and iii) a billing information label which can be used by the originating switch to create a customized billing record for the call.