Patent ID: 8839293

Claim:
A method of controlling a communications network, said communications network having a broadcast or cablecast transmitter station with at least one transmitter and a plurality of receiver stations, each receiver station having a broadcast or cablecast signal receiver, at least one processor, a signal detector, said signal detector adapted to receive signals from a broadcast or cablecast signal, and said processor programmed to respond to signals from said detector, said method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving at said broadcast or cablecast transmitter station generally applicable information in respect of a general plan and one or more instruct signals which operate at said plurality of receiver stations to select said generally applicable information and formulate a receiver specific plan based on said generally applicable information; (2) transferring said generally applicable information and said one or more instruct signals from said transmitter station to said at least one transmitter; (3) receiving one or more first control signals at said transmitter station, said first control signals designating at least one receiver station of said plurality of receiver stations in which said one or more instruct signals are addressed; and (4) transferring said one or more first control signals from said transmitter station to said at least one transmitter, said at least one transmitter broadcasting or cablecasting said generally applicable information, said one or more instruct signals and said one or more first control signals to said plurality of receiver stations.