Patent US3676580A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3676580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Interrogated transponder system
Assignee: Video Information Systems Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An interrogated transponder system of the type which may be used for billing purposes with subscription television systems, wherein a central station interrogates a large number of individual subscriber stations to determine the condition of the subscriber''s receiver and/or an associated terminal device. Each transponder includes a storage register of the type in which data may be stored in parallel and read out in serial form. The information stored in the register may represent the channel to which the receiver is tuned or the condition of a plurality of data switches which enable the subscriber to transmit data back to the central station. The subscribers may be divided into groups and subgroups with each subgroup being responsive to a different combination of frequencies transmitted by the central station. This combination of frequencies is used as an address code which identifies each individual subscriber or terminal station. One of the transmitted frequencies is used as a source of shift pulses to shift the information from the storage register as well as part of the address code which identifies the subscriber station. The output of the shift register, in serial form, is transmitted back to the central station by FSK techniques, with the frequencies employed identifying the specific subscriber within the subgroup.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph H Beck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; H04Q9/08; H04Q9/12; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17327; H04N2007/17372; H04N2007/1739
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A subscriber video receiving system in which each subscriber has a receiver tunable by channel selector means to any one of a plurality of video channels for receiving video information, data switch means and a transponder for transmitting back to a central station information indicative of the selected channel to which the receiver is tuned and the condition of said data switch means, wherein tones are transmitted from said central station to said transponder to select a transponder for interrogation, such selection being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, wherein each transponder comprises a multi-stage storage register for storing digital information representative of said selected channel or said data switch condition, read-out means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for causing the digital information in said storage register to be read from the storage register for transmission to a utilization device, and means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for selectively coupling said channel selector means or said data switch means to said storage register.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A subscriber video receiving system in which each subscriber has a receiver tunable by channel selector means to any one of a plurality of video channels for receiving video information, data switch means and a transponder for transmitting back to a central station information indicative of the selected channel to which the receiver is tuned and the condition of said data switch means, wherein tones are transmitted from said central station to said transponder to select a transponder for interrogation, such selection being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, wherein each transponder comprises a multi-stage storage register for storing digital information representative of said selected channel or said data switch condition, read-out means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for causing the digital information in said storage register to be read from the storage register for transmission to a utilization device, and means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for selectively coupling said channel selector means or said data switch means to said storage register.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A subscriber video receiving system according to claim 1, wherein said storage register comprises a shift register from which data is read in serial form, and wherein said first named preselected tone comprises a series of pulses, said read-out means including means responsive to said pulses for coupling shift pulses to said shift register.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A subscriber video system according to claim 1, further including means responsive to the output of said register for transmitting one of at least two additional frequencies to said utilization device depending upon the digital state of the information read from the register.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A subscriber video system according to claim 2, further including means responsive to the output of said register for transmitting one of at least two additional frequencies to said utilization device depending upon the digital state of the information read from the register.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
a subscriber video receiving system according to claim 4, further including means responsive to said channel selector means for producing a multi-bit digital signal corresponding to the channel to which said receiver is tuned, said coupling means including means for transferring said multi-bit digital signal to said shift register in parallel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
167 words
A transponder for use in a subscriber video receiving system in which each subscriber has a receiver tunable by channel selector means to any one of a plurality of video channels for receiving video information and for transmitting back to a central station information indicative of the selected channel to which an associated receiver is tuned, wherein tones are transmitted from said central station to said transponder to select the transponder for interrogation, such selection being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, comprising data switch means, a multi-stage storage register for storing digital information representative of said selected channel or said data switch condition, read-out means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for causing the digital information in said storage register to be read from the storage register for transmission to a utilization device, and means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for selectively coupling said channel selector means or said data switch means to said storage register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
A transponder for use in a subscriber video receiving system in which each subscriber has a receiver tunable by channel selector means to any one of a plurality of video channels for receiving video information and for transmitting back to a central station information indicative of the selected channel to which an associated receiver is tuned, wherein tones are transmitted from said central station to said transponder to select the transponder for interrogation, such selection being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, comprising data switch means, a multi-stage storage register for storing digital information representative of said selected channel or said data switch condition, read-out means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for causing the digital information in said storage register to be read from the storage register for transmission to a utilization device, and means responsive to at least one preselected one of said tones for selectively coupling said channel selector means or said data switch means to said storage register.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A transponder according to claim 6, wherein said storage register comprises a shift regIster from which data is read in serial form, and wherein said first named preselected tone comprises a series of pulses, said read-out means including means responsive to said pulses for coupling shift pulses to said shift register.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transponder according to claim 6, further including means responsive to the output of said register for transmitting one of at least two additional frequencies to said utilization device depending upon the digital state of the information read from the register.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A transponder according to claim 7, further including means responsive to the output of said register for transmitting one of at least two additional frequencies to said utilization device depending upon the digital state of the information read from the register.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A transponder according to claim 9, further including means responsive to said channel selector means for producing a multi-bit digital signal corresponding to the channel to which said receiver is tuned, said coupling means including means for transferring said multi-bit digital signal to said shift register in parallel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
A subscriber video receiving system in which each subscriber has a receiver tunable by channel selector means to any one of a plurality of video channels for receiving video information and a transponder for transmitting back to said central station information indicative of the selected channel to which the receiver is tuned, wherein tones are transmitted from said central station to said transponder to select a transponder for interrogation, such selection being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, the improvement comprising a multi-stage shift register for storing digital information representative of said selected channel, means responsive to said channel selector means for producing a multi-bit digital signal corresponding to the channel to which said receiver is tuned, means for transferring said multi-bit digital signal to said shift register in parallel, means enabled by the receipt of a preselected plurality of said tones and responsive to at least one of said tones for coupling shift pulses to said shift register to serially transfer the stored data out of said shift register, and means responsive to the data transferred from said shift register for transmitting a corresponding digital signal to a utilization device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
192 words
A subscriber video receiving system in which each subscriber has a receiver tunable by channel selector means to any one of a plurality of video channels for receiving video information and a transponder for transmitting back to said central station information indicative of the selected channel to which the receiver is tuned, wherein tones are transmitted from said central station to said transponder to select a transponder for interrogation, such selection being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, the improvement comprising a multi-stage shift register for storing digital information representative of said selected channel, means responsive to said channel selector means for producing a multi-bit digital signal corresponding to the channel to which said receiver is tuned, means for transferring said multi-bit digital signal to said shift register in parallel, means enabled by the receipt of a preselected plurality of said tones and responsive to at least one of said tones for coupling shift pulses to said shift register to serially transfer the stored data out of said shift register, and means responsive to the data transferred from said shift register for transmitting a corresponding digital signal to a utilization device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A subscriber video system according to claim 11, wherein said transmitting means transmits one of at least two additional frequencies to said utilization device depending upon the digital state of the information read from the register.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders N address tones from an available number of M tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders K tones taken from the remaining M-N tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders N address tones from an available number of M tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders K tones taken from the remaining M-N tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of interrogating transponders according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said transmitted tones is transmitted in the form of a series of pulses to the selected subgroup of transponders with each of said pulses adapted to initiate the transmission of at least one bit of information from the transponders of said selected subgroup.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherEin each transponder includes a storage register which contains digital information to be returned to a central station, the stored information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders N address tones from an available number of M tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders K tones taken from the remaining M-N tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its stored information on its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherEin each transponder includes a storage register which contains digital information to be returned to a central station, the stored information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders N address tones from an available number of M tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders K tones taken from the remaining M-N tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its stored information on its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of selectively interrogating transponders according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said address tones causes the selected input source to be coupled to said storage register for subsequent transmission to the central station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of interrogating transponders according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said transmitted tones is transmitted in the form of a series of pulses to the selected subgroup of transponders with each of said pulses adapted to shift the stored data in said register on a bit-by-bit basis for readout in serial form.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
A transponder for use in a system wherein a large number of transponders are interrogated by means of interrogating tones transmitted from a central station to the individual transponders, with the selection of the transponders being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, and wherein each transponder is adapted to transmit signals to said central station derived from a selected one of two or more data sources, the combination comprising a multi-stage storage register for storing digital information to be returned to the central station, means responsive to at least one of said interrogating tones for selectively coupling one of said data sources to said storage register, and readout means responsive to at least one of said interrogating tones for causing the information stored in said register to be returned to the central station.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
134 words
A transponder for use in a system wherein a large number of transponders are interrogated by means of interrogating tones transmitted from a central station to the individual transponders, with the selection of the transponders being dependent upon the frequencies of said tones, and wherein each transponder is adapted to transmit signals to said central station derived from a selected one of two or more data sources, the combination comprising a multi-stage storage register for storing digital information to be returned to the central station, means responsive to at least one of said interrogating tones for selectively coupling one of said data sources to said storage register, and readout means responsive to at least one of said interrogating tones for causing the information stored in said register to be returned to the central station.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
A transponder according to claim 18, wherein said readout means includes an FSK generator responsive to the data output from said storage register and means responsive to at least one of said interrogating tones for causing the contents of said register to be read-out in serial form.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA742363A
Cited
US3078337A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |