Abstract: A method and apparatus of collecting data from a television audience comprising storing in a first memory demographic descriptions of expected viewers of a television receiver, receiving signals from a viewer control operated by a viewer, displaying one or more indicia on a television screen for viewing by the viewer, designated by the character of the signals received from the control, in confirmation of the particular signal received from the control, and storing a signal in a second memory for later access corresponding to at least one form of the designated signal character, which is related to the designation of at least one selected expected viewer as an active viewer. The television viewer may use his remote control at any time, when the flashing prompt is flashing, or when it is not flashing, to change channels. There is no channel lock nor is there an annoying on-screen prompt enquiring as to the identity of persons in the viewing audience.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of collecting data from a television audience comprising storing in a first memory demographic descriptions of expected viewers of a television receiver, receiving signals from a viewer control operated by a viewer, displaying one or more indicia on a television screen for viewing by the viewer, designated by the character of the signals received from the control, in confirmation of the particular signal received from the control, and storing a signal in a second memory for later access corresponding to at least one form of the designated signal character, which is related to the designation of at least one selected expected viewer as an active viewer. The television viewer may use his remote control at any time, when the flashing prompt is flashing, or when it is not flashing, to change channels. There is no channel lock nor is there an annoying on-screen prompt enquiring as to the identity of persons in the viewing audience.

Abstract: A video sync control circuit for controlling the stable synchronization of the display of locally generated signals on a TV screen in the presence or in the absence of a received signal which includes a sync signal. The circuit is comprised of apparatus for receiving an video input signal, apparatus for detecting the presence of an input sync signal which is part of the video input signal, and the absence of the sync signal during all or part of a sync interval of the video input signal, apparatus for locally generating a replacement video signal containing a video display which extends over a predetermined time interval, which is in sync with a local clock, apparatus for phase locking the local clock with the input sync signal, and apparatus for switching the input video signal to an output line during time other than during the time interval, and switching the replacement composite video signal to the output line during the time interval.