US3898374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wired broadcasting systems
Assignee: Communications Patents Ltd
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Filing: 1973-10-09
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1993-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A wired broadcasting system in which subscribers are connected through individual cables to a programme exchange incorporating means actuable by a subscriber for selecting a particular one of a plurality of programmes to be transmitted to the subscriber through his own individual channel. Means are provided for allocating the programmes into three or more groups, and means are provided at the exchange or at the subscriber units for selectively denying two or some of the groups of programmes to subscribers.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric John Gargini
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
392 words
A wired broadcasting system in which subscribers are connected through individual cables to a programme exchange incorporating means actuable by a subscriber for selecting a particular one of a plurality of programmes to be transmitted to the subscriber through his own individual channel, comprising means for allocating the programmes into three or more groups, and means for selectively denying two of the groups of programmes to subscribers, means for marking each of the plurality of programmes with any one of a plurality of voltage signals to indicate the group to which each programme belongs, means provided for each subscriber channel for indicating which of the marking voltage signals identify groups of programmes which are to be denied to particular subscribers, and means for sensing the marking voltage signal associated with a programme selected by the subscriber and denying the selected programme when the sensed voltage indicates a group of programmes which is to be denied, wherein the sensing and denying means comprises a denial unit at the exchange for each subscriber connected to receive a first input indicative of the marking voltage signal of a selected programme, and a second input indicative of which of the marking voltage signals identify programmes which are to be denied to the respective subscriber, the denial unit being adapted to deny a selected programme to the subscriber when the first and second inputs indicate the same marking voltage signals, wherein the denial unit further comprises an input circuit for the first and second inputs and a bistable output circuit wherein the input comprises two back-to-back reverse biased diodes one of which is a zener diode, wherein the first and second inputs are connected to the common terminal of the diodes respectively through a resistor and a direct connection, means connecting the said common terminal with the intermediate voltage signal whereby the voltages are such that the zener diode does not break down and when the common terminal carries a first one of the other marking voltage signals the zener diode conducts, and when the common terminal carries the second of the said other marking voltages the other diode conducts, and means provided for marking each programme with any one of three D.C. voltages, the intermediate one of the three voltages marking that group of programmes which is not to be denied to any of the subscribers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
392 words
A wired broadcasting system in which subscribers are connected through individual cables to a programme exchange incorporating means actuable by a subscriber for selecting a particular one of a plurality of programmes to be transmitted to the subscriber through his own individual channel, comprising means for allocating the programmes into three or more groups, and means for selectively denying two of the groups of programmes to subscribers, means for marking each of the plurality of programmes with any one of a plurality of voltage signals to indicate the group to which each programme belongs, means provided for each subscriber channel for indicating which of the marking voltage signals identify groups of programmes which are to be denied to particular subscribers, and means for sensing the marking voltage signal associated with a programme selected by the subscriber and denying the selected programme when the sensed voltage indicates a group of programmes which is to be denied, wherein the sensing and denying means comprises a denial unit at the exchange for each subscriber connected to receive a first input indicative of the marking voltage signal of a selected programme, and a second input indicative of which of the marking voltage signals identify programmes which are to be denied to the respective subscriber, the denial unit being adapted to deny a selected programme to the subscriber when the first and second inputs indicate the same marking voltage signals, wherein the denial unit further comprises an input circuit for the first and second inputs and a bistable output circuit wherein the input comprises two back-to-back reverse biased diodes one of which is a zener diode, wherein the first and second inputs are connected to the common terminal of the diodes respectively through a resistor and a direct connection, means connecting the said common terminal with the intermediate voltage signal whereby the voltages are such that the zener diode does not break down and when the common terminal carries a first one of the other marking voltage signals the zener diode conducts, and when the common terminal carries the second of the said other marking voltages the other diode conducts, and means provided for marking each programme with any one of three D.C. voltages, the intermediate one of the three voltages marking that group of programmes which is not to be denied to any of the subscribers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the base of a normally non-conducting first transistor is connected to the zener diode, the first transistor being arranged to turn on when the zener diode is caused to conduct.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein the bistable circuit comprises a normally non-conducting second transistor and a normally conducting third transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein the second transistor is connected to the first transistor and the said other diode and is in series with the coil of a relay.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein the contacts of the relay are normally open and close when the second transistor conducts, the contacts being arranged to mute any programme signal on the particular subscriber''s channel when closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein the second transistor is turned on when the said other diode conducts or the first transistor is turned on.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 6, wherein the third transistor is turned off a predetermined period after the second transistor has been turned on, the predetermined period being determined by a capacitive and resistive circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 7, comprising a normally non-conducting fourth transistor the base of which is connected by a normally non-conducting zener diode to a potential divider in series with the third transistor, the turning off of the third transistor causing the voltage across the zener diode to increase to the breakdown voltage and to turn on the fourth transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein a capacitive and resistive feedback channel is provided between the fourth and second transistors to turn off the second transistor a predetermined interval after the fourth transistor is turned on.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 8, wherein each subscriber is provided with a rotary selector at the exchange which the subscriber may actuate to select any desired programme the selector being adapted to return the marking voltage of a selected programme dirEctly to the respective denial unit as the same first input.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 10, wherein each selector is provided with a reset coil connected in series with the fourth transistor of the denial unit the coil when energised releasing the selector which is spring reset to a datum position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein each subscriber unit is provided with a manually actuable reset switch the actuation of which applies a voltage to the third transistor to turn it off causing the turning on of the fourth transistor and the resetting of the selector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of selectors at the exchange actuable by respective subscribers to select any one of the programmes and adapted to provide the said first input.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein each selector is rotary and may be spring reset to a datum position by the passage of a current through a reset coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein the coil may be energised by subscriber actuable means and by the denial unit upon selection by the subscriber of a denied programme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein each selector returns the marking voltage signal of a selected programme directly to the respective denial unit as the said first input.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the indicating means comprises a plurality of subscriber denial inhibit units at the exchange actuable to provide the said second input to the respective denial units.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein each denial inhibit unit is connected to a common D.C. voltage source providing the said intermediate voltage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 18, wherein each denial inhibit unit comprises two switches in parallel which may be connected to respective ones of a pair of diodes arranged with opposed polarities in parallel and themselves connected to the said intermediate voltage source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1, including a programme denial unit for superimposing marking voltages on each programme signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 20, including means superimposing the marking voltages on the audio signals of the respective programmes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 21, wherein the programme denial unit comprises a plurality of switches for connecting the respective audio programme signals to a plurality of common voltage sources.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 1, comprising means for selectively applying to respective programmes any one of a plurality of charge pulse signals to indicate the cost of the programmer and means associated with each subscriber channel for counting the number of pulses applied to a programme whilst that programme is being received by the respective subscriber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the pulse signals are applied to the audio signals of the respective programmes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 23, comprising a pulse generator the output of which is connected through a divider to a binary-to-decimal converter having a plurality of outputs to which different pulse signals are applied, and a plurality of selectors for applying any one of the different pulse signals to respective programmes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 25, comprising a plurality of counters at the exchange for respective subscriber channels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 26, wherein each counter is connected directly to the pulse generator and is adapted to count only those pulses received from a selected programme which are coincident with pulses received directly from the pulse generator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
175 words
A system according to claim 12, comprising a pulse generator the output of which is connected through a divider to a binary to decimal converter having a plurality of outputs to which different pulse signals are applied, means associated with each subscriber channel for counting the number of pulses applied to a programme whilst that programme is being received by the Respective subscriber, and a plurality of selectors for applying any one of the different pulse signals to the audio signals of respective programmes, wherein the pulse signals applied to a programme selected by a subscriber are passed to the subscriber unit and return to the respective denial unit through a path which is closed except when the subscriber''s unit is operating, the pulse signals being applied to the base of the normally conducting transistor and being of a polarity and amplitude such that the current through the third transistor is reduced but not stopped, and the counting means being connected to the third transistor so as to receive a pulse each time this occurs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 28, wherein the second transistor is connected to a D.C. bias from a gated supply unit controlled by the pulse generator, the supply being gated whenever a charge pulse could be received from any programme so that the turning on of the second transistor is temporarily prevented on all such occasions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 23, wherein the charge pulse signals comprise one or more sine squared pulses.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing and denying means comprises a transistor voltage sensing device at each subscriber unit adapted to deny a programme selected by a subscriber when it senses a voltage identifying a group of programmes which is to be denied to that subscriber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 31, comprising a relay actuable by the voltage sensing device when a denied programme is selected to mute that programme.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 31, comprising a relay actuable by the voltage sensing device when a denied programme is selected to reset the subscribers selector to a datum position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 31, comprising control means at each subscriber unit actuable to determine which groups of programmes are to be denied to that subscriber.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 34, wherein the control means are actuable with a key.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 31, comprising means for applying charge pulse signals to respective programme signals to indicate the cost of the programmes, means associated with each subscriber channel for counting the pulse signals applied to programmes received by the respective subscribers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 36, wherein the counting means comprise meters at the exchange.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 36, comprising meters at the respective subscriber units.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 36, comprising coin mechanisms at each subscriber unit adapted to indicate the value of coins deposited therein, and means for deducting a predetermined amount from the indicate amount each time a charge pulse is applied to the signal of a programme being received, the mechanism being adapted to prevent receipt of programmes by the subscriber whenever the indicated amount is reduced to zero.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |