Multiple access message retrieval system

Claim 2

An information storage and retrieval system comprising a. a first multi-channel recorder for recording a message in a first plurality of equal length message segments on separate channels and for playing back simultaneously from the separate channels the first plurality of message segments; b. a first multiplexer connected to said first multi-channel recorder for multiplexing the first plurality of message segments into a multiplexed message portion; c. a second multi-channel recorder for recording a second plurality of multiplexed message portions on separate channels and for playing back simultaneously from the separate channels the second plurality of message portions; d. a second multiplexer connected to said second multi-channel recorder for multiplexing the second plurality of multiplexed message portions into a multiplexed message signal; e. demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the plurality of equal length message segments; f. output means for providing an output signal of the message and including control means coupling said output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each message segment in turn to the output means; and g. further recording means coupled to said second multiplexer for recording the multiplexed message signal.

Claim 3

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 1 in which said further recording means is an audio signal recorder for recording audio messages and in which the system further comprises a video recorder for recording video messages.

Claim 4

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 2 in which said control means includes means for adjusting said output means to any desired segment of the plurality of equal length message segments.

Claim 5

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 3 in which said output means includes an audio output device for providing an audio output signal of recorded audio messages and a video output device for providing a video output signal of recorded video messages.

Claim 6

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 4 in which said video output device includes a video buffer for storing a video signal and a video display device for displaying the stored video signal.

Claim 7

A multiple access information retrieval system comprising a plurality of message receiving locations and message source means for providing each message receiving location a plurality of equal length sequentially numbered message segments multiplexed into a multiplexed message signal of a duration equal to the message segment length, each message receiving location including message output means and message control means coupling the message source means with the message output means of that message receiving location for applying each message segment in turn to the message output means commencing with a preselected one of the message segments, each said message control means comprising a first mixer for receiving multiplexed message signals, a binary coded decimal counter for generating voltage signals that are digital representations of decimal message segment numbers, a digital-to-analog converter connected to said binary coded decimal counter for converting the voltage signals to oscillator control voltage signals, first signal generating means responsive to coded control signals in the multiplexed message signal for incrementing the binary coded decimal counter voltage signals at the end of each segment of the multiplexed message signal, voltage controlled oscillator means coupled to said digital-to-analog converter and to said first mixer for controlling the frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to apply to the said first mixer a first control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the multiplexed message signal results in a first heterodyne signal including a preselected one of the message segments, and first filter means coupled to said first mixer for passing the preselected one of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies.

Claim 8

A multiple access information retrieval system comprising a plurality of message receiving locations and message source means for providing each message receiving location a plurality of equal length sequentially numbered message segments multiplexed into a multiplexed message signal of a duration equal to the message segment length, each message receiving location including message output means and message control means coupling the message source means with the message output means of that message receiving location for applying each message segment in turn to the message output means commencing with a preselected one of the message segments, each said message control means comprising a first mixer for receiving multiplexed message signals, a binary coded decimal counter for generating voltage signals that are digital representations of decimal message segment numbers, a digital-to-analog converter connected to said binary coded decimal counter for converting the voltage signals to oscillator control voltage signals, first signal generating means responsive to coded control signals in the multiplexed message signal for incrementing the binary coded decimal counter voltage signals at the end of each segment of the multiplexed message signal, voltage controlled oscillator means coupled to said digital-to-analog converter and to said first mixer for controlling the frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to apply to the said first mixer a first control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the multiplexed message signal results in a first heterodyne signal including a preselected one of the message segments, and first filter means coupled to said first mixer for passing the preselected one of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies.

Claim 9

A multiple access information retrieval system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising second signal generating means responsive to coded control signals in the multiplexed message signal for generating control pulses, pulse storage means for storing control pulses, third signal generating means for generating a suspending signal in response to a predetermined arrangement of control pulses in said pulse storage means, inhibiting means for inhibiting said first signal generating means upon generation of a suspending signal, a plurality of actuation means, and terminating means for terminating operation of the inhibiting means upon actuation of a preselected one of the plurality of actuation means.

Claim 10

A multiple access information storage system as claimed in claim 7 in further comprising counter setting means for setting the binary coded decimal counter to a predetermined voltage signal upon actuation of one of the plurality of actuation means other than said preselected one while said first signal generating means is inhibited.

Claim 11

A multiple access information retrieval system comprising a pluralitY of message receiving locations and message source means for providing to each message receiving location a plurality of equal length, sequentially numbered message segments multiplexed into a multiplexed message signal of a duration equal to the message segment length, each message receiving location including message output means and message control means coupling the message source means with the message output means of that message receiving location for applying each message segment in turn to the message output means commencing with a preselected one of the message segments, each said message control means comprising: a first mixer for receiving multiplexed message signals; first control signal means for applying to the said first mixer a first control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the multiplexed message signal results in a first heterodyne signal including a preselected group of the message segments, said first control signal means including first frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the first control signal and first filter means coupled to said first mixer for passing the preselected group of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies; a second mixer for receiving the preselected group of message segments; and second control signal means for applying to said second mixer a second control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the preselected group of message segments results in a second heterodyne signal including a preselected one of the message segments, said second control signal means including second frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the second control signal and second filter means coupled to said second mixer for passing the preselected one of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies.

Claim 12

A multiple access information retrieval system comprising a pluralitY of message receiving locations and message source means for providing to each message receiving location a plurality of equal length, sequentially numbered message segments multiplexed into a multiplexed message signal of a duration equal to the message segment length, each message receiving location including message output means and message control means coupling the message source means with the message output means of that message receiving location for applying each message segment in turn to the message output means commencing with a preselected one of the message segments, each said message control means comprising: a first mixer for receiving multiplexed message signals; first control signal means for applying to the said first mixer a first control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the multiplexed message signal results in a first heterodyne signal including a preselected group of the message segments, said first control signal means including first frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the first control signal and first filter means coupled to said first mixer for passing the preselected group of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies; a second mixer for receiving the preselected group of message segments; and second control signal means for applying to said second mixer a second control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the preselected group of message segments results in a second heterodyne signal including a preselected one of the message segments, said second control signal means including second frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the second control signal and second filter means coupled to said second mixer for passing the preselected one of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies.

Claim 13

A multiple access information storage system as claimed in claim 9 in which said first control signal means comprises crystal controlled oscillator means including a plurality of crystals of different frequency characteristics, and connecting means for selectively connecting one of the plurality of crystals into the oscillation circuit of said crystal controlled oscillator means.

Claim 14

A multiple access information storage system as claimed in claim 10 in which said connecting means includes a like plurality of switch means each uniquely associated with one of said crystals and capable of alternatively assuming a first condition in which the associated crystal is disconnected from the oscillation circuit and a second condition in which the associated crystal is connected into the oscillation circuit, and switch control means for selectively controlling each of said plurality of switch means between the first condition and the second condition.

Claim 15

A multiple access information storage system as claimed in claim 11 in which said switch control means includes means responsive to coded control signals in the multiplexed message signal for electively controlling each of said plurality of switch means between the first condition and the second condition.

Claim 16

An information storage and retrieval system comprising: a. time segmenting means for dividing a message of duration T into N message segments, each message segment having a duration t, where T Nt, said time segmenting means comprising a first multi-channel recorder for recording the message in a first plurality of equal length message segments on separate channels and for playing back simultaneously from the separate channels the first plurality of message segments; b. multiplexing means for multiplexing the N message segments into a multiplexed message signal having a duration t, said multiplexing means including a first multiplexer connected to said first multi-channel recorder for multiplexing the first plurality of message segments into a multiplexed message portion; a second multi-channel recorder for recording a second plurality oF multiplexed message portions on separate channels and for playing back simultaneously from the separate channels the second plurality of message portions; and a second multiplexer connected to said second multi-channel recorder for multiplexing the second plurality of multiplexed message portions into a multiplexed message signal; c. demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the N message segments; and d. output means for providing an output signal of the message and including control means coupling said output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each of the N message segments in turn to the output means.

Claim 17

An information storage and retrieval system comprising: a. time segmenting means for dividing a message of duration T into N message segments, each message segment having a duration t, where T Nt, said time segmenting means comprising a first multi-channel recorder for recording the message in a first plurality of equal length message segments on separate channels and for playing back simultaneously from the separate channels the first plurality of message segments; b. multiplexing means for multiplexing the N message segments into a multiplexed message signal having a duration t, said multiplexing means including a first multiplexer connected to said first multi-channel recorder for multiplexing the first plurality of message segments into a multiplexed message portion; a second multi-channel recorder for recording a second plurality oF multiplexed message portions on separate channels and for playing back simultaneously from the separate channels the second plurality of message portions; and a second multiplexer connected to said second multi-channel recorder for multiplexing the second plurality of multiplexed message portions into a multiplexed message signal; c. demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the N message segments; and d. output means for providing an output signal of the message and including control means coupling said output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each of the N message segments in turn to the output means.

Claim 18

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising further recording means coupled to said second multiplexer for recording the multiplexed message signal.

Claim 19

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 14 in which said further recording means is an audio signal recorder for recording audio messages and in which the system further comprises a video recorder for recording video messages.

Claim 20

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 13 and including a plurality of output means each providing an output signal of the message and having control means coupling the associated output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each message segment in turn to that output means.

Claim 21

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 16 and including a plurality of demultiplexing means each uniquely associated with one of said plurality of output means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the plurality of equal length message segments under control of the control means in the associated output means.

Claim 22

An information storage and retrieval system comprising: a. time segmenting means for dividing a message of duration T into N message segments, each message segment having a duration t, where T Nt; b. multiplexing means for multiplexing the N message segments into a multiplexed message signal having a duration t; c. demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the N message segments; and d. output means for providing an output signal of the message and incuding an audio output device for providing an audio output signal of recorded audio message, a video output device for providing a video output signal of recorded video messages and control means coupling said output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each of the N message segments in turn to the output means.

Claim 23

An information storage and retrieval system comprising: a. time segmenting means for dividing a message of duration T into N message segments, each message segment having a duration t, where T Nt; b. multiplexing means for multiplexing the N message segments into a multiplexed message signal having a duration t; c. demultiplexing means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the N message segments; and d. output means for providing an output signal of the message and incuding an audio output device for providing an audio output signal of recorded audio message, a video output device for providing a video output signal of recorded video messages and control means coupling said output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each of the N message segments in turn to the output means.

Claim 24

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 18 in which said video output device includes a video buffer for storing a video signal and a video display device for displaying the stored video signal.

Claim 25

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 18 and including a plurality of output means providing an output signal of the message and having control means coupling the associated output means with said demultiplexing means for applying each message segment in turn to that output means.

Claim 26

An information storage and retrieval system as claimed in claim 20 and including a plurality of demultiplexing means each uniquely associated with one of said plurality of output means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the plurality of equal length message segments under control of the control means in the associated output means.

Claim 27

A multiple access information retrieval system comprising a plurality of message receiving locations and message source means for providing to each message receiving location N message segments each having a duration t, said message segments multiplexed into a multiplexed message signal of a duration t, each message receiving location including message output means and message control mEans coupling the message source means with the message output means of that message receiving location for applying each message segment in turn to the message output means commencing with a preselected one of the message segments to provide an output message of a duration T where T Nt, each message control means comprising a first mixer for receiving multiplexed message signals, first control signals means for applying to said first mixer a first control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the multiplexed message signal results in a first heterodyne signal including a preselected one of the message segments, said first control signal means including first frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the first control signal, and first filter means coupled to said first mixer for passing the preselected one of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies.

Claim 28

A multiple access information retrieval system comprising a plurality of message receiving locations and message source means for providing to each message receiving location N message segments each having a duration t, said message segments multiplexed into a multiplexed message signal of a duration t, each message receiving location including message output means and message control mEans coupling the message source means with the message output means of that message receiving location for applying each message segment in turn to the message output means commencing with a preselected one of the message segments to provide an output message of a duration T where T Nt, each message control means comprising a first mixer for receiving multiplexed message signals, first control signals means for applying to said first mixer a first control signal of a frequency which when mixed with the multiplexed message signal results in a first heterodyne signal including a preselected one of the message segments, said first control signal means including first frequency control means for controlling the frequency of the first control signal, and first filter means coupled to said first mixer for passing the preselected one of the message segments while blocking other signal frequencies.

Claim 29

A multiple access information retrieval system as claimed in claim 22 in which said first control signal means comprises voltage controlled oscillator means, variable voltage source means coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator means for controlling the frequency thereof, and voltage control means for controlling the voltage of the variable voltage source means.

Claim 30

A multiple access information retrieval system as claimed in claim 23 in which said voltage control means comprises a binary coded decimal signal source and in which said variable voltage source means comprises a digital-to-analog converter for providing to said voltage controlled oscillator means a voltage signal at a level determined by the output of said binary coded decimal signal source.

Claim 31

An information storage and retrieval system comprising: a. time segmenting means for dividing a message of duration T into N message segments, each message segment having a duration t, where T Nt; b. multiplexing means for multiplexing the N message segments into a multiplexed message signal having a duration t; c. a plurality of output means each providing an output signal of the message and having control means for applying each message segment in turn to that output means, said control means including means for adjusting said output means to any desired segment of the plurality of equal length message segments; and d. a plurality of demuliplexing means each uniquely associated with one of said plurality of output means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the N message segments under control of the control means of the associated output means.

Claim 32

An information storage and retrieval system comprising: a. time segmenting means for dividing a message of duration T into N message segments, each message segment having a duration t, where T Nt; b. multiplexing means for multiplexing the N message segments into a multiplexed message signal having a duration t; c. a plurality of output means each providing an output signal of the message and having control means for applying each message segment in turn to that output means, said control means including means for adjusting said output means to any desired segment of the plurality of equal length message segments; and d. a plurality of demuliplexing means each uniquely associated with one of said plurality of output means for demultiplexing the multiplexed message signal into the N message segments under control of the control means of the associated output means.