Selective polling of terminals via a sequentially coupled broadband cable

Claim 2

Interrogation receiver/transponder circuitry for communication terminal equipment comprising: a transmission line; a source of acceptance/non-acceptance control signals; a source of service request signals; means coupled in parallel to said line and controlled by said acceptance signals for receiving a directed interrogation transmission carried on said line; said transmission comprising a predetermined sequence of elemental signals; at least a portion of said sequence becoming repetitive after a predetermined number N of successive elemental signals; said receiving means operating without obstructing the further propagation of said transmission to other terminal equipment coupled to said line; means controlled by initial reception operation of said receiving means for producing timing signals synchronous with signal elements of said transmission; means controlled by said timing signals for synchronously generating a sequence of N internal pattern signals corresponding to a portion of said transmission uniquely associated with the position of the respective terminal in a set of terminals sequentially receiving said transmission, in synchronism with reception of said transmission portion; correlation means responsive to said timing signals to ascertain correlation of said received transmissions with said internal pattern signals produced by said generating means; and transponder means coupled in parallel to said line and controlled by said acceptance signals, said correlation means, said timing means, said generating means and said service request signals for selectively producing a directed extension transmission having unique timing in relation to said transmission, said extension representing an extrapolated sequential element of said interrogation transmission and forming therewith a composite transmission uniquely indicative of the reception correlation status and service request status of the respective said terminal equipment.

Claim 3

Receiver/transponder circuits according to claim 1 wherein said extension transmission is directed in the direction of continued propagation of said interrogation transmissions and is carried in the same time/frequency channel of communication as said interrogation transmission.

Claim 4

Circuits according to claim 2 wherein said interrogation transmission comprises a representation of a particular digit sequence in a specific cyclic code and said extension transmission consists of an extrapolated digit element of said code in said particular sequence.

Claim 5

Circuits according to claim 3 wherein said extension transmission element is transmitted so as to form said composite transmission without a gap in time relative to the last digit element of the interrogation transmission as the interrogation transmission proceeds in said direction of continued propagation.

Claim 6

Circuits according to claim 2 including: means responsive to said timing signals for producing a selectively timed masking signal; and means responsive to said masking signal to inhibit operation of said correlation means for the time duration of said masking signal.

Claim 7

Circuits according to claim 5 including: means for changeably storing signals having a unique positional correspondence with the position of interrogation reception of the respective terminal equipment in a group of sequentially receptive terminal equipments; and means for applying said stored signals to said masking signal producing means to uniquely control the time duration of said masking signal in accordance with said group position of said respective terminal equipment.

Claim 8

In a multiple distribution communication system involving distribution of directed bidirectional transmissions between a master station and multiple terminal stations, the latter arranged in a predetermined order of succession with respect to initial reception of said transmissions and adapted to communicate one at a time with the master station over a predetermined time/frequency service channel shared in common by the terminals, an interrogation system controlled by said master station for allocating said predetermined service channel to individual said terminals comprising: means in each said terminal for selectively establishing interrogation acceptance/non-acceptance control status in the respective terminal; means associated with said master station for transmitting directed configuring and service polling interrogation transmission to said terminals in said order of succession over A predetermined time/frequency channel of interrogation transmission; means in each said terminal operated selectively by respective said status control means having acceptance status for selectively receiving said interrogation signals; means in each said terminal coupled to respective said receiving means and responsive to reception of said configuring interrogation transmissions to develop and retain a representation of the positional order of interrogation transmission reception of the respective terminal; means in each said terminal coupled to respective said order representation retaining means and selective receiving means for developing extrapolation response code functions uniquely characteristic of respective said terminals in response to reception of said service polling interrogations; means in each said terminal for selectively transmitting representations of respective said extrapolation response functions in the direction of succeeding said terminals in the said order of succession of reception; and means in each said terminal responsive to reception of composite transmissions formed by said service polling transmissions in combination with extrapolation response transmissions of preceding terminals in said order of succession for controlling the selective extrapolation response transmission of the respective terminal and the utilization of the shared service channel by the respective terminal.

Claim 9

In a multiple distribution communication system involving distribution of directed bidirectional transmissions between a master station and multiple terminal stations, the latter arranged in a predetermined order of succession with respect to initial reception of said transmissions and adapted to communicate one at a time with the master station over a predetermined time/frequency service channel shared in common by the terminals, an interrogation system controlled by said master station for allocating said predetermined service channel to individual said terminals comprising: means in each said terminal for selectively establishing interrogation acceptance/non-acceptance control status in the respective terminal; means associated with said master station for transmitting directed configuring and service polling interrogation transmission to said terminals in said order of succession over A predetermined time/frequency channel of interrogation transmission; means in each said terminal operated selectively by respective said status control means having acceptance status for selectively receiving said interrogation signals; means in each said terminal coupled to respective said receiving means and responsive to reception of said configuring interrogation transmissions to develop and retain a representation of the positional order of interrogation transmission reception of the respective terminal; means in each said terminal coupled to respective said order representation retaining means and selective receiving means for developing extrapolation response code functions uniquely characteristic of respective said terminals in response to reception of said service polling interrogations; means in each said terminal for selectively transmitting representations of respective said extrapolation response functions in the direction of succeeding said terminals in the said order of succession of reception; and means in each said terminal responsive to reception of composite transmissions formed by said service polling transmissions in combination with extrapolation response transmissions of preceding terminals in said order of succession for controlling the selective extrapolation response transmission of the respective terminal and the utilization of the shared service channel by the respective terminal.

Claim 10

In a sequential interrogation system: a source of an original interrogation transmission; multiple terminals adapted to successively receive said interrogation transmission in a predetermined order of reception; said transmission including a representation of at least one cycle of digits of a predetermined cyclic code; means in each of said terminals for conditionally transmitting supplemental interrogation signals representing successive extrapolated digit element extensions of said original interrogation transmission, to be received by succeeding said terminals in said order of reception; means in each terminal for manifesting respective service requirement status; and means in each terminal responsive to said received original and supplemental transmission and status of respective status manifesting means for conditioning transmission operations of respective said supplemental signal transmitting means upon reception and correlation of a complete cycle of sequential digits of said cyclic code and status indication that communication service is not required by the respective terminal

Claim 11

In a sequential interrogation system: a source of an original interrogation transmission; multiple terminals adapted to successively receive said interrogation transmission in a predetermined order of reception; said transmission including a representation of at least one cycle of digits of a predetermined cyclic code; means in each of said terminals for conditionally transmitting supplemental interrogation signals representing successive extrapolated digit element extensions of said original interrogation transmission, to be received by succeeding said terminals in said order of reception; means in each terminal for manifesting respective service requirement status; and means in each terminal responsive to said received original and supplemental transmission and status of respective status manifesting means for conditioning transmission operations of respective said supplemental signal transmitting means upon reception and correlation of a complete cycle of sequential digits of said cyclic code and status indication that communication service is not required by the respective terminal

Claim 12

A system according to claim 8 wherein each said conditioning means includes timing means effective to append respective said supplemental transmissions, without time hiatus, either to the last supplemental transmission of a preceding terminal in said order of reception when such precedent supplemental transmissions occur or, when there is no supplemental transmission, to the end of the original interrogation transmission.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 9 wherein said original and supplemental interrogation transmissions are carried in the same time/frequency channel of communication.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 10 wherein each said conditioning means includes correlation means effective to generate a serial time representation of a reference interrogation code function and to ascertain correlation in a certain time interval between a segment of the reference function and a corresponding time portion of received original and supplemental interrogation transmissions; release of the respective terminal supplemental transmission being conditioned upon the status of said correlation.

Claim 15

A system according to claim 11 wherein said respective correlation means include mask function generating means for selectively determining the said time interval in which said correlation is ascertained in dependance upon the position of the respective terminal in said order of reception.

Claim 16

In a communication system: a unifoRm continuous transmission medium for conveyance and directed guidance of transmissions; means supplying an initial interrogation pulse coded transmission of variable form and length to said medium for conveyance therein a particular direction; and a plurality of terminal units coupled successively to said medium and adapted to receive said conveyed interrogation transmission successively without impeding or delaying continued conveyance thereof in said medium and adapted further to selectively supply or not supply extrapolated code transmissions to said medium for conveyance in said particular direction as progressive code extensions of said coded transmission; each said extrapolated transmission having predetermined code significance and time position in relation to the initial transmission and the other extrapolated transmissions and appearing in said medium as an uninterrupted extension in time and code sense of the initial transmission and precedent other extrapolated transmissions.

Claim 17

In a communication system: a unifoRm continuous transmission medium for conveyance and directed guidance of transmissions; means supplying an initial interrogation pulse coded transmission of variable form and length to said medium for conveyance therein a particular direction; and a plurality of terminal units coupled successively to said medium and adapted to receive said conveyed interrogation transmission successively without impeding or delaying continued conveyance thereof in said medium and adapted further to selectively supply or not supply extrapolated code transmissions to said medium for conveyance in said particular direction as progressive code extensions of said coded transmission; each said extrapolated transmission having predetermined code significance and time position in relation to the initial transmission and the other extrapolated transmissions and appearing in said medium as an uninterrupted extension in time and code sense of the initial transmission and precedent other extrapolated transmissions.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 13 wherein said supplying means and terminal units comprise a network of coordinated but geographically separated transceivers directionally coupled to said medium for transmitting therein in said particular direction time coordinated interrogation transmissions which appear to successive said terminals as one uninterrupted interrogation transmission.

Claim 19

In a communication system: a transmission medium; an interrogation control unit including a transmitter supplying coded initial interrogation transmissions of finite length for conveyance through said medium; each said transmission containing multiple consecutive elements of a predetermined cyclic code; and a plurality of terminal transceiver units sequentially coupled to said medium through directive relatively isolated receiving and transmitting couplings with said medium; each terminal transceiver being capable of operating in time synchronism with said conveyed interrogation transmissions as the latter are conveyed past respective said couplings in order to extrapolate and selectively transmit additional consecutive elements of said code in said medium in the same direction as said passing transmission; said extrapolated transmissions appearing in said medium as continuous code and signal extensions of precedent extrapolated and/or initial transmissions.

Claim 20

In a communication system: a transmission medium; an interrogation control unit including a transmitter supplying coded initial interrogation transmissions of finite length for conveyance through said medium; each said transmission containing multiple consecutive elements of a predetermined cyclic code; and a plurality of terminal transceiver units sequentially coupled to said medium through directive relatively isolated receiving and transmitting couplings with said medium; each terminal transceiver being capable of operating in time synchronism with said conveyed interrogation transmissions as the latter are conveyed past respective said couplings in order to extrapolate and selectively transmit additional consecutive elements of said code in said medium in the same direction as said passing transmission; said extrapolated transmissions appearing in said medium as continuous code and signal extensions of precedent extrapolated and/or initial transmissions.

Claim 21

A communication system according to claim 15 wherein: each said interrogation transmission may comprise either a configuring interrogation or a service polling interrogation distinct from said configuring interrogation; and wherein said terminals include individual processing circuits capable of controlling reception of said configuring interrogations and development and transmission in synchronism therewith of respective said extrapolated transmission code element while concurrently developing and storing an ordered configuration status function related uniquely to the number of extrapolated code elements received in consequence of precedent terminal transmissions; and wherein said terminal processing circuits are arranged to respond conditionally to received said service polling transmissions in combined logical dependence upon the configuration status function last stored in the respective terminal, the number of sequential code digits correctly received and the instant service requirement status of the respective terminal.

Claim 22

In a communication system: a terminal unit; means in said unit for establishing and storing a variable representation of a service poll ordering function (i.e. configuration status) uniquely associated with the position of the respective unit in a set of positionally ordered units; means in said unit for indicating a service requirement status of said unit; means communicating with said terminal unit for supplying thereto variable length service polling code transmissions, each having cyclic code significance in select portions thereof; and means in said unit responsive to said variable length transmissions to condition acceptance of service by said unit relative to said communicating means according to a predetermined combinational logic function of the respective stored configuration status indication, the code significance and positional ordering of a portion of said transmission and the said service requirement status indication.

Claim 23

In a communication system: a terminal unit; means in said unit for establishing and storing a variable representation of a service poll ordering function (i.e. configuration status) uniquely associated with the position of the respective unit in a set of positionally ordered units; means in said unit for indicating a service requirement status of said unit; means communicating with said terminal unit for supplying thereto variable length service polling code transmissions, each having cyclic code significance in select portions thereof; and means in said unit responsive to said variable length transmissions to condition acceptance of service by said unit relative to said communicating means according to a predetermined combinational logic function of the respective stored configuration status indication, the code significance and positional ordering of a portion of said transmission and the said service requirement status indication.

Claim 24

In a communication system: a terminal unit; means in said unit for storing configuration order representations; means remote from said unit and communicating with said unit for alternately supplying thereto cyclically encoded configuring signals selectively receivable by said unit, which signals are useful when received to cause said unit to modify the state of said storing means, and cyclically encoded service polling signals of varying code significance and length; and means in said unit for variably conditioning the response of said unit to said service polling interrogations in accordance with a combinational function of the instant state of said storing means and the instance form and length of respective said interrogations.

Claim 25

In a communication system: a terminal unit; means in said unit for storing configuration order representations; means remote from said unit and communicating with said unit for alternately supplying thereto cyclically encoded configuring signals selectively receivable by said unit, which signals are useful when received to cause said unit to modify the state of said storing means, and cyclically encoded service polling signals of varying code significance and length; and means in said unit for variably conditioning the response of said unit to said service polling interrogations in accordance with a combinational function of the instant state of said storing means and the instance form and length of respective said interrogations.

Claim 26

In a communication system: a terminal unit; means communicating with said unit for supplying selective service polling pulse code interrogations of variable code form and duration to said unit and for receiving related code responses of selective form from said unit at particular times in relation to initial portions of respective said interrogations; means in said terminal for conditioning respective said related responses upon the form and code significance of said respective interrogation and upon variable internal status information of the respective terminal; and means associated with said communicating means for selectively varying said interrogations to extend beyond said particular time, to have forms causing said terminal to remain silent at said particular times and to contain in said extended interrogations signals corresponding to and simulating particular responses of said terminal unit.

Claim 27

In a communication system: a terminal unit; means communicating with said unit for supplying selective service polling pulse code interrogations of variable code form and duration to said unit and for receiving related code responses of selective form from said unit at particular times in relation to initial portions of respective said interrogations; means in said terminal for conditioning respective said related responses upon the form and code significance of said respective interrogation and upon variable internal status information of the respective terminal; and means associated with said communicating means for selectively varying said interrogations to extend beyond said particular time, to have forms causing said terminal to remain silent at said particular times and to contain in said extended interrogations signals corresponding to and simulating particular responses of said terminal unit.

Claim 28

A unit according to claim 19 wherein said interrogations comprise directionally propagated binary signal representations including an end section consisting of a representation of a variable number of successive bits of a cyclic code, and wherein each said terminal response consists alternately of the guided transmission or non-transmission of a representation of the next successive bit of said code in the direction of continued propagation of said interrogation signals; and when said response comprises said next bit transmission it is arranged to occur contiguous in time to the trailing edge of the last bit representation in said end section and to appear in said communicating means as a continuation of said end section.