Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A variable message length data acquisition and retrieval system for the communication of data between a control computer and a plurality of remote data terminals comprising: a. a two-way carrier modulated transmission line coupled between the computer and said terminals, b. an interface connected between the computer and said transmission line, said interface comprising: 1. a transmitter for transmitting contiquous data words in a time-multiplexed mode to selected terminals via a forward channel of said transmission line,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A variable message length data acquisition and retrieval system for the communication of data between a control computer and a plurality of remote data terminals comprising: a. a two-way carrier modulated transmission line coupled between the computer and said terminals, b. an interface connected between the computer and said transmission line, said interface comprising: 1. a transmitter for transmitting contiquous data words in a time-multiplexed mode to selected terminals via a forward channel of said transmission line,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A receiver for receiving data words from said selected terminals via a return channel of said transmission line, and 3. clock pulse generating means responsive to information in data words returned from the terminal via said computer for varying the length of the data message which is transmitted on said forward channel to the terminal, said information being dependent upon requirements of functions to be performed at a terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A receiver for receiving data words from said selected terminals via a return channel of said transmission line, and 3. clock pulse generating means responsive to information in data words returned from the terminal via said computer for varying the length of the data message which is transmitted on said forward channel to the terminal, said information being dependent upon requirements of functions to be performed at a terminal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A receiver for receiving data words from said selected terminals via a return channel of said transmission line, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A receiver for receiving data words from said selected terminals via a return channel of said transmission line, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said data words are alphanumeric characters and said terminal comprises data storage means and data display means, said clock pulse generating means being operative to transmit a burst of characters via said forward channel to said storage means, and means coupling said storage means to said display means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
clock pulse generating means responsive to information in data words returned from the terminal via said computer for varying the length of the data message which is transmitted on said forward channel to the terminal, said information being dependent upon requirements of functions to be performed at a terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
clock pulse generating means responsive to information in data words returned from the terminal via said computer for varying the length of the data message which is transmitted on said forward channel to the terminal, said information being dependent upon requirements of functions to be performed at a terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the data words transmitted by said computer are alphanumeric characters in serial bit form, said interface further comprising means for forming from the serial character bits television line bit patterns representing said characters, and television means at said terminal for displaying one line of characters, said clock pulse generating means being operative to transmit serial-by-bit the bit patterns for one line of characters via said forward channel in a burst mode to said television means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
A system as defind in claim 1 wherein the data words transmitted by the computer include a major address and a minor address, address storage means at each terminal for storing the major address and the minor address of that terminal, address comparison means at each terminal for comparing the stored major address with the transmitted major address, means responsive to a match of the stored and transmitted major addresses to condition the comparison means for a subsequent comparison of a transmitted minor address and a stored minor address, and means responsive to a mismatch of the stored and transmitted major addresses for inhibiting the subsequent comparison of the stored minor address and a transmitted minor address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said address storage means comprises an address matrix for storing in parallel bit form both the major and minor addresses of the terminal, multiplexing means for converting the stored parallel address into serial bit for comparison in said comparison means on a bit-by-bit basis with the bits of the addresses transmitted by the computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
222 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said address matrix comprises a circuit board, a plurality of spaced parallel bit conductors on one surface of the board and being equal in number to the number of bits in each of said major and minor addresses, a plurality of control conductors on the opposite surface of said board and extending at right angles to said bit conductors, a through-hole extending through the board at the overlapping points of each pair of bit and control conductors, means connecting the bit conductors to said multiplexing means, means fixing one pair of said control conductors at two different voltage polarities, switch means for selectively applying a different one of said two polarities to each of another pair of two control conductors, said switch means being responsive to a major address to apply one combination of said two polarities to said other pair of control conductors and responsive to a minor address to apply the opposite combination of said two polarities to said other pair of control conductors, and means for electrically interconnecting said bit conductors and said control conductors through said through-holes in a combinatorial pattern corresponding to the major and minor addresses of the terminal, whereby the voltage polarities appearing on the said bit conductors represent the major and minor addresses of the terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission line is a multiple channel CATV coaxial cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is a frequency shift keyed modulated transmitter and said receiver is a phase shift keyed receiver.