Abstract: The video switch system remotely controls on a per switch, and hence a per channel, basis the insertion of a programmed channel video signal sent over one telecommunications network, a commercial video signal sent with the switch commands over another network or a locally generated video signal compiled from digitally stored video signals located on a digital storage device by insert locator data sent with the switch commands and the commercial insert video. The video switch system, in preferred embodiments, can generate a plurality of third video signals based upon a plurality of insert location information that is part of the insert locator data and apply respective third video signals to one or more of the video switches dependent upon switch commands and insert locator data generated remotely and received at the cable head end.

Abstract: The interactive data retrieval system utilizes a computer system that has a telephone interface, a memory, and a facsimile transmission device. The telephone interface is connected to a telephone line and receives information request signals from the caller and transmits audio responses over the telephone line to that person based upon the requested signals. The computer program converts the information request signals into a search request command. The program searches the data compilation and obtains a data set based upon that command. The data set may be an acknowledgment of the subscriber or customer account number and security code or, on a broader level, may be the number of hits or records present in the data set that was generated by the search of the data compilation. The program produces signals which represent audio response signals and the audio response signals are sent via the telephone interface to the subscriber or customer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the commercial insertion system includes, at a control center, a source of commercial inserts and a processor for generating various command signals based upon monitoring a plurality of programmed channels signals on a per channel basis. A stream of commercial insert video signals and the command signals are sent via a satellite up link to regional cable systems generally grouped as East Coast stations and West Coast stations. A multiple input/output video switch system is located at the video head of each cable system. This video switch system includes a local video signal generator and a video switch for each channel having local available commercial time slots.