EP0140593A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Music delivery system
Assignee: MUSIC LOVERS' JUKEBOX Inc
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Filing: 1984-10-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-10-02
Abstract
Abstract © A music delivery system permitting a subscriber to select from among a plurality of available music selections, particular selections that the subscriber wishes to hear at any time. The plurality of music selections are "played" at a central "jukebox" facility (110). They are frequency multiplexed onto one or more communication channels (114) that are typically used to carry video information, such as a cable television channel. The video channel information is distributed to individual subscribers either via unused channels of a cable television system, by direct broadcast at commercial television frequencies, by direct satellite transmission to a subscriber, or by some other means. A subscriber uses a converter box to demultiplex and thereby select a desired musical selection for demodulation. Demodulation can take place in the subscriber's television or in some other apparatus. Music selections are selected in a similar fashion to the manner in which particular channels of a cable television system are selected for video viewing. Each music selection is on an audio sub-channel of a video channel. The music on the sub-channels is continuously played in such a way that any specific selection can be chosen at any time.
Inventors
- 👤 Markley Lee Jones
- 👤 Lee Edwards
- 👤 John H. Bordelon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/76; H04H20/77; H04H20/78; H04H20/79; H04H20/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for delivering music comprising the steps of: generating a frequency multiplexed composite electrical signal corresponding to a plurality of pieces of audio information; transmitting the composite signal to a subscriber; demultiplexing a particular one of said plurality of pieces of audio information; and transducing the particular desired piece of audio information into an audio signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for delivering music comprising the steps of: generating a frequency multiplexed composite electrical signal corresponding to a plurality of pieces of audio information; transmitting the composite signal to a subscriber; demultiplexing a particular one of said plurality of pieces of audio information; and transducing the particular desired piece of audio information into an audio signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating comprises the step of generating electrical signals from pre-recorded records.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said step of generating comprises the step of generating electrical signals by playing a pre-recorded optical-type record using a laser playback device.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
58 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said step of demultiplexing comprises the steps of: selectively frequency converting a portion of said composite signal corresponding to said particular desired piece of audio information to a predetermined intermediate frequency; and demodulating at said intermediate frequency to provide said particular desired audio information at baseband.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said step of demodulating comprises the step of demodulating using an audio IF train of a television receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
An arrangement for delivering music to a subscriber comprising: means (110) for generating a frequency multiplexed composite electrical signal corresponding to said plurality of pieces of audio information; means for transmitting the composite signal to a subscriber; means for demultiplexing a particular one of said plurality of pieces of audio information; and means (126) for transducing the particular desired piece of audio information into an audio signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
An arrangement for delivering music to a subscriber comprising: means (110) for generating a frequency multiplexed composite electrical signal corresponding to said plurality of pieces of audio information; means for transmitting the composite signal to a subscriber; means for demultiplexing a particular one of said plurality of pieces of audio information; and means (126) for transducing the particular desired piece of audio information into an audio signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said generating means comprises means for generating electrical signals from prerecorded records.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said generating means comprises means for generating electrical signals by playing a prerecorded optical-type record using a laser playback device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An arrangement according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said demultiplexing means comprises: means (204) for selectively frequency converting a portion of said composite signal corresponding to said particular desired piece of audio information to a predetermined intermediate frequency; and means for demodulating at set intermediate frequency to provide said particular desired audio information at baseband.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said demodulating means comprises means for demodulating using an audio IF train of a television.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
An audio sub-channel converter for selecting a particular one of a plurality of audio sub-channels of a video channel comprising: means for receiving said video channel from a cable; means (306) for synthesizing a local oscillator signal the frequency of which can be user controlled; means (304) for mixing said synthesized signal with said input signal to provide a desired sub-channel on a predetermined intermediate frequency; means (320) for FM modulating said selected audio sub-channel onto a carrier predetermined frequency; means (324) for mixing said predetermined intermediate frequency FM modulated with said audio sub-channel onto said video carrier frequency for transmission to a television.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
An audio sub-channel converter for selecting a particular one of a plurality of audio sub-channels of a video channel comprising: means for receiving said video channel from a cable; means (306) for synthesizing a local oscillator signal the frequency of which can be user controlled; means (304) for mixing said synthesized signal with said input signal to provide a desired sub-channel on a predetermined intermediate frequency; means (320) for FM modulating said selected audio sub-channel onto a carrier predetermined frequency; means (324) for mixing said predetermined intermediate frequency FM modulated with said audio sub-channel onto said video carrier frequency for transmission to a television.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A converter according to claim 11 further comprising means for FM detecting said intermediate frequency signal for detecting start and stop tones on said audio sub-channel; and means for controlling said local oscillator frequency responsive to said start and stop tones.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A converter according to claim 11 or claim 12 further comprising means (318) for muting audio output of said television when there is not audio information on a selected sub-channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
A converter for selecting a particular one of a plurality of audio sub-channels of a video channel comprising: means for receiving an input video channel; means (306) for synthesizing a local oscillator frequency having a user selectable frequency for converting a desired sub-channel to a predetermined first intermediate frequency; means (312,314) for converting said first predetermined intermediate frequency to a second predetermined intermediate frequency; means (318) for detecting audio information at said second intermediate frequency; means (320) for FM modulating the detected audio onto a predetermined carrier; means (324) for generating a video carrier signal; and means (322) for FM modulating said predetermined carrier onto said video carrier for coupling to a subscriber's television.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
114 words
A converter for selecting a particular one of a plurality of audio sub-channels of a video channel comprising: means for receiving an input video channel; means (306) for synthesizing a local oscillator frequency having a user selectable frequency for converting a desired sub-channel to a predetermined first intermediate frequency; means (312,314) for converting said first predetermined intermediate frequency to a second predetermined intermediate frequency; means (318) for detecting audio information at said second intermediate frequency; means (320) for FM modulating the detected audio onto a predetermined carrier; means (324) for generating a video carrier signal; and means (322) for FM modulating said predetermined carrier onto said video carrier for coupling to a subscriber's television.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
An audio sub-channel coverter for selecting a particular one of a plurality of audio sub-channels of a video channel comprising: means for receiving said video channel from a cable; means (206) for synthesizing a local oscillator signal the frequency of which can be user controlled; means (204) for mixing said synthesized signal with said input signal to provide a desired sub-channel on a predetermined intermediate frequency; an output channel video carrier oscillator (220) means (218) for mixing said predetermined intermediate frequency signal with the output video carrier frequency for transmission to a television.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
An audio sub-channel coverter for selecting a particular one of a plurality of audio sub-channels of a video channel comprising: means for receiving said video channel from a cable; means (206) for synthesizing a local oscillator signal the frequency of which can be user controlled; means (204) for mixing said synthesized signal with said input signal to provide a desired sub-channel on a predetermined intermediate frequency; an output channel video carrier oscillator (220) means (218) for mixing said predetermined intermediate frequency signal with the output video carrier frequency for transmission to a television.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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