US3794922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data sampling communication system
Assignee: MERCANTILE NATIONAL BANK AT DALLAS
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Filing: 1972-01-26
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-01-26
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a system for sampling or interrogating selected ones of a plurality of remote units at which are located television receivers, to determine which of a plurality of television channels are being viewed at the interrogated remote units at the particular time of interrogation. The system includes a master station which transmits interrogation signals simultaneously to a plurality of remote units. Each remote unit includes a data transducer mechanism and a transmitter mechanism for transmitting reply signals back to the master station. The data transducer is coupled to the television receiver channel selector and is responsive thereto for generating data signals representing the particular channel being viewed at any given instant. Each remote unit also includes a data readout mechanism responsive to readout signals transmitted from the master station for producing a digital data signal representative of the data signal generated by the data transducer and supplying same to the transmitter mechanism. The disclosed system is especially adapted for use in a community antenna or cable television system in which each remote unit is coupled to the cable system.
Inventors
- 👤 W Osborn
- 👤 B Carter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; G; G08; G08B; G08B26/00; G08B26/001; G08B26/002; H04Q; H04Q9/00; H04Q9/14; H04N2007/17372
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A television communications system having a plurality of television channels some of which are pay television channels comprising: a master station, a plurality of remote subscriber units and a cable network for coupling the remote subscriber units to the master station wherein: the master station comprises: television signal transmitter means for transmitting television signals over said channels in a first frequency range; interrogation signal transmitter means for transmitting interrogation signals in a second frequency range; and receiver means for receiving reply signals in a third frequency range; and each remote subscriber unit comprises: television receiver means responsive to the transmitted television signals for reproducing television programs at the remote unit location, said television receiver means including channel selector means for selecting the television channel to which the television receiver means is tuned; reply signal transmitter means for transmitting reply signals back to the master station in the third frequency range; data transducer means coupled to the television receiver channel selector means and responsive to a predetermined signal pattern in the received master station interrogation signals for producing indications of the channel to which the television receiver means is tuned at any given instant, said data transducer means including apparatus for producing an authorization indication of whether the remote subscriber unit is an authorized pay television channel user; and control circuit means responsive to the data transducer means for controlling the operation of the reply signal transmitter means to transmit signals representing the channel to which the television receiver means is tuned back to the master station, said control circuit means including means for controlling the reply signal transmitter means to transmit signals back to the master station representing the authorization indication.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A television communications system having a plurality of television channels some of which are pay television channels comprising: a master station, a plurality of remote subscriber units and a cable network for coupling the remote subscriber units to the master station wherein: the master station comprises: television signal transmitter means for transmitting television signals over said channels in a first frequency range; interrogation signal transmitter means for transmitting interrogation signals in a second frequency range; and receiver means for receiving reply signals in a third frequency range; and each remote subscriber unit comprises: television receiver means responsive to the transmitted television signals for reproducing television programs at the remote unit location, said television receiver means including channel selector means for selecting the television channel to which the television receiver means is tuned; reply signal transmitter means for transmitting reply signals back to the master station in the third frequency range; data transducer means coupled to the television receiver channel selector means and responsive to a predetermined signal pattern in the received master station interrogation signals for producing indications of the channel to which the television receiver means is tuned at any given instant, said data transducer means including apparatus for producing an authorization indication of whether the remote subscriber unit is an authorized pay television channel user; and control circuit means responsive to the data transducer means for controlling the operation of the reply signal transmitter means to transmit signals representing the channel to which the television receiver means is tuned back to the master station, said control circuit means including means for controlling the reply signal transmitter means to transmit signals back to the master station representing the authorization indication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A television communications system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said authorization indication producing apparatus includes a manually operable switch having first and second conditions, said first condition indicating that the remote unit is an authorized pay television channel user and said second condition indicating the remote unit is not an authorized pay television channel user, and means for generating a first signal when said switch is in the first condition and for generating a second signal when said switch is in the second condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
A television communications system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first and second signal generating means includes a voltage source connected to one side of said switch, the other side of said switch being connected to ground, said switch conducting electrical current from said voltage source to ground when in the second condition and preventing the conduction of current from said voltage source to ground when in the first condition, and means connected to the node interconnecting said voltage source and said switch and responsive to a predetermined signal pattern in the received master station interrogation signals for generating said first signaL when said switch is in the first condition and for generating a second signal when said switch is in the second condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A television communications system in accordance with claim 2 further including means responsive to said television receiver channel selector means for preventing the operation of said television receiver means when said switch is in the first condition and said channel selector means is tuned to a certain pay television channel and for enabling the operation of said television receiver means when said channel selector means is tuned to other than a pay television channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
A television communications system in accordance with claim 4 further including power supply means and an electrical conductor connecting said supply means to said television receiver means, and wherein said preventing and enabling means includes a second switch responsive to said channel selector means for assuming a conductive condition when said channel selector means is tuned to a certain pay television channel and for assuming a non-conductive condition when said channel selector means is tuned to other than a pay television channel, said second switch and said manually operable switch being connected in series to interconnect said conductor with ground, said second switch and said manually operable switch conducting power from said power supply to ground when said second switch is in the conductive condition and said manually operable switch is in the second condition to thereby prevent the operation of said television receiver means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
A television communications system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the television receiver channel selector means is a rotary-type selector including a tuner shaft; and the data transducer means includes a shaft encoder comprising a cam shaft coupled to the tuner shaft to rotate as the tuner shaft is rotated, a plurality of cams mounted on the cam shaft so that the cams rotate about their axis as the cam shaft is rotated, said cams each having a different pattern of notches located about the perimeter thereof, and a plurality of switches each positioned adjacent the perimeter of a different and corresponding one of said cams and each operable by its corresponding cam to close and thereby generate a signal when the switch is adjacent to a notch in the cam, said switches thereby generating a digital signal pattern for each setting of the tuner shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
245 words
A communication system comprising: a master station including transmitter means for transmitting interrogation signals which include identification code signals, function selector code signals and data readout control signals, and receiver means for receiving reply signals; and a remote unit comprising: receiver means for receiving interrogation signals transmitted by the master station; transmitter means for transmitting reply signals back to the master station; television receiver means for reproducing television programs at the remote unit location and including channel selector means for selecting the television channel to be viewed; function selector decoder means responsive to a particular function selector code signal for generating an enable signal; transducer means coupled to said television receiver channel selector means and responsive to said enable signal for generating data signals identifying the channel to which said channel selector means is set, said transducer means including pay function means comprising a manually operable switch having first and second conditions, said pay function means being responsive to said enable signal for generating a first data signal when said switch is in said first condition and for generating a second data signal when said switch is in said second condition, and means for applying said first and second data signals to said remote unit transmitter means; means for applying said data signals to said remote unit transmitter means; and indentification decoder means responsive to a Particular identification code signal for enabling the remote unit transmitter means to transmit data signals to the master station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
245 words
A communication system comprising: a master station including transmitter means for transmitting interrogation signals which include identification code signals, function selector code signals and data readout control signals, and receiver means for receiving reply signals; and a remote unit comprising: receiver means for receiving interrogation signals transmitted by the master station; transmitter means for transmitting reply signals back to the master station; television receiver means for reproducing television programs at the remote unit location and including channel selector means for selecting the television channel to be viewed; function selector decoder means responsive to a particular function selector code signal for generating an enable signal; transducer means coupled to said television receiver channel selector means and responsive to said enable signal for generating data signals identifying the channel to which said channel selector means is set, said transducer means including pay function means comprising a manually operable switch having first and second conditions, said pay function means being responsive to said enable signal for generating a first data signal when said switch is in said first condition and for generating a second data signal when said switch is in said second condition, and means for applying said first and second data signals to said remote unit transmitter means; means for applying said data signals to said remote unit transmitter means; and indentification decoder means responsive to a Particular identification code signal for enabling the remote unit transmitter means to transmit data signals to the master station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A communications system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said transducer means further includes means coupled to said television receiver channel selector means for inhibiting said television receiver from reproducing television programs when said switch is in said first condition and said channel selector means is set to certain channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A communications system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said transducer means further includes means responsive to said enable signal for generating a third data signal when said television receiver means is reproducing television programs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3058065A
Cited
US3668307A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |