EP0430711A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video network
Assignee: Quadriga Worldwide Ltd
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Filing: 1990-11-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A video network includes a head end terminal 1 for providing video signals from a number of video players 7 in addition to off-air broadcast signals 9. The video signals are distributed via a distribution system to a number of television receivers, each having a respective terminal for detecting the channel to which the television is tuned. A control unit 8 compares the phase of the signals detected by a terminal with the phase of each of the video signals distributed via the distribution network to determine whether the television is tuned to a channel from one of the video players 7 or a channel from an off air broadcast. The network can also inhibit the operation of any television receiver detected as being tuned to any one or more of the video player channels. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 John Gower
- 👤 Bill Sinclair
- 👤 Robert Haigh
- 👤 Frank Shirvani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17363; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17336; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/53; H04H20/61; H04H20/63; H04H60/00; H04H60/61; H04H60/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A video network comprising a head end equipment at a first location for providing video signals on a plurality of channels; one or more terminals for location remote from the head end equipment, the or each terminal associated with a respective television receiver; control means associated with the head end equipment for providing control signals for controlling at least one terminal; respective further control means associated with the or each terminal for causing operation of the terminal and or the television receiver associated therewith in response to control signals received thereby, and respective detection means associated with the or each terminal for detecting whether the television receiver associated therewith is tuned to one of a specific selection of channels of the plurality of channels and for providing an indication to the head end equipment that the television receiver is tuned to one of the specific selection of channels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A network according to claim 1, wherein the head end equipment includes means to provide video player source video signals and video signals from off air broadcasts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A network according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one detection means is arranged to detect the instantaneous phase of the video signal to which the television receiver associated therewith is tuned and to compare the detected instantaneous phase with the instantaneous phase of each of the video signals provided by the head end equipment, thereby to determine whether the said television receiver is tuned to one of the specific selection of channels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
118 words
A network according to claim 3, wherein the detection means comprises a counter circuit arranged to receive from a terminal a first signal dependent upon the video signal to which the television receiver associated with the said terminal is tuned and in sequence a plurality of further signals, each dependent upon a respective one of the video signals provided by the head end equipment on the plurality of channels, the counter circuit being arranged to commence counting on receipt of a leading edge of a first signal and to terminate counting on receipt of a leading edge of a further signal, thereby to provide a count value indicative of the relative phase between the first and further signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A network according to claim 3 or claim 4 comprising storage means for storing a plurality of values of the detected instantaneous phase for enabling the detected instantaneous phase to be compared with the instantaneous phase of each of the video signals over a number of cycles of the video signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A network according to any one of claims 1 to 5 comprising a printer for providing recorded details of any television receiver detected as being tuned to one of the specific selection of channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A network according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means is arranged, on detection of a television receiver tuned to one of the specific selection of channels, to provide control signals to the television receiver associated with said terminal for inhibiting the operation of the said television receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A network according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means is arranged to provide warning signals for providing an indication to a viewer of a television receiver detected as tuned to one of the specific channels that the television receiver is tuned to one of the specific channels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A network according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a terminal comprises a current sensor for sensing operation of a television receiver associated with the said terminal, the terminal being arranged to actuate a tamper alarm if a characteristic of the output signal from the detection means monitored by the further control means is detected as exceeding predetermined limits and the said television receiver has been sensed as being in operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A network according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a monitoring circuit for providing stimulus signals at a predetermined frequency, the control means being arranged to reset the system if a stimulus signal is detected as being absent for a time interval in excess of a predetermined time interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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