System for public opinion research

Claim 2

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a communication system transmitting communication signals within a predetermined frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operative input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input burst signal of a length signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a determined length differing from the corresponding characteristic value of input signals signifying others of said responses, said input signal further having a frequency outside of said predetermined frequency band, for simultaneous transmission of said communication signals and said input signal; connecting means connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; and summing circuit means at said central station for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses and furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 3

Public opinion research system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication system is a telephone network; wherein said predetemined frequency band is a low frequency band; and wherein said input signals have a frequency higher than the frequency in said predetermined low frequency band.

Claim 4

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a telephone network transmitting signals within a predetermined low frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input signal signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a frequency higher than the frequencies in said low frequency band, each of said input means comprising manually operable selector means each having a plurality of selector elements, and conveyor means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal, each of said converter means comprising burst furnishing means for furnishing an AC burst having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements, all of said AC bursts having the same frequency, AC bursts signifying different ones of said predetermined responses having different burst lengths; connecting means, comprising filter means having a band pass including the frequencies of said input signals and rejecting all other frequencies, for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; semi-transducer means at said central station, said transducer means comprising a plurality of transducers each having an input connected to a given telephone line, the number of said transducers corresponding in number to the plurality of participants connected to said telephone line, each of sand transducers having a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals, a transducer output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal; and summing circuit means at said central station, for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses, and furnishing a plurality of summing output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses, said summing circuit means comprising a plurality of counter means corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, each for furnishing a counter output signal signifying the total number of participants connected to said telephone line who have selected a corresponding one of said predetermined responses; a private communication line interconnecting said central station and a computation station; and parallel-series converter means connected to the output of said counter means for transmitting said counter output signal in series form over said private communication line.

Claim 5

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a telephone network transmitting signals within a predetermined low frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input signal signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a frequency higher than the frequencies in said low frequency band, each of said input means comprising manually operable selector means each having a plurality of selector elements, and conveyor means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal, each of said converter means comprising burst furnishing means for furnishing an AC burst having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements, all of said AC bursts having the same frequency, AC bursts signifying different ones of said predetermined responses having different burst lengths; connecting means, comprising filter means having a band pass including the frequencies of said input signals and rejecting all other frequencies, for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; semi-transducer means at said central station, said transducer means comprising a plurality of transducers each having an input connected to a given telephone line, the number of said transducers corresponding in number to the plurality of participants connected to said telephone line, each of sand transducers having a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals, a transducer output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal; and summing circuit means at said central station, for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses, and furnishing a plurality of summing output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses, said summing circuit means comprising a plurality of counter means corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, each for furnishing a counter output signal signifying the total number of participants connected to said telephone line who have selected a corresponding one of said predetermined responses; a private communication line interconnecting said central station and a computation station; and parallel-series converter means connected to the output of said counter means for transmitting said counter output signal in series form over said private communication line.

Claim 6

A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise filter means having a band pass including the frequencies of said input signals, and rejecting all other frequencies.

Claim 7

A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said input means comprise manually operable selector means each having a plurality of selector elements, and converter means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal.

Claim 8

A system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said converter means comprise burst furnishing means furnishing an AC burst having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements.

Claim 9

A system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said AC bursts all have the same frequencies.

Claim 10

A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said selector means comprise keyboard means.

Claim 11

A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses is a selected channel of a plurality of television channels on a television receiver having a tuner; and wherein said selector means comprise rotary switch means mechanically coupled to said tuner.

Claim 12

A system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a source of AC power; and means connecting said AC power to said input means only when said television receiver is energized.

Claim 13

A system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said means connecting said AC power to said input means comprise current transformer means.

Claim 14

An arrangement as set forth in claim 11, further comprising control oscillator means connected to said current transformer means for furnishing a control signal signifying television receiver operation.

Claim 15

A system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said control oscillator means has a predetermined control frequency; further comprising filter means connecting said control oscillator means to said telephone network, said filter means passing said control frequency and rejecting frequencies above and below said control frequency.

Claim 16

A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said converter means comprise first oscillator means furnishing an oscillator output signal; first AND-gate means having a first input connected to said oscillator means, a second input, and an output connected to sand band pass filter means; a plurality of timing elements; timing circuit means furnishing timing pulses having a pulse width varying in dependence upon a timing element connected thereto; and timing element selector means for connecting a corresponding one of said plurality of timing elements to said timing circuit means in response to the operation of each of said selector elements.

Claim 17

A system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said converter means comprise first oscillator means furnishing an oscillator output signal for the duration of a timing signal applied thereto; timing circuit means furnishing said timing signal; and varying means interconnected between said selector elements and said timing circuit means for varying the duration of said timing signals to correspond to the selected one of said selector elements.

Claim 18

A system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising inhibitor means connected to said convertor means, for inhibiting the operation of said converter means for a predetermined time period following the furnishing of one of said input signals.

Claim 19

A system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising transducer means at said central station, said transducer means having an input connected to said communications network and a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals an output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal.

Claim 20

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a communication system normally transmitting signals within a predetermined frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, for furnishing, upon operation, an AC burst having a predetermined frequency outside of said predetermined frequency band and a burst length corresponding to said selected one of said plurality of predetermined responses; connecting means for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network, thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; transducer means at said central station, said transducer means having an input connected to said communications network and a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals, an output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal, said transducer means comprising first transducer circuit means for changing each received one of said AC bursts to a corresponding pulse having a pulse width corresponding to said AC burst length, integrator means connected to said first transducer circuit means for furnishing an integrator signal having a peak amplitude corresponding to said pulse width, and a plurality of threshold circuit means each having an input connected to said integrator means and a threshold output, for furnishing a threshold output signal at said threshold output when the amplitude of said integrator signal is a corresponding predetermined amplitude, each of said threshold circuit means comprising flip-flop means having a SET input connected to said integrator means, a Y output for furnishing said threshold output signal and a Y output for furnishing a signal in the absence of said threshold output signal; and summing circuit means connected to said threshold circuit means for furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 21

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a communication system normally transmitting signals within a predetermined frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, for furnishing, upon operation, an AC burst having a predetermined frequency outside of said predetermined frequency band and a burst length corresponding to said selected one of said plurality of predetermined responses; connecting means for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network, thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; transducer means at said central station, said transducer means having an input connected to said communications network and a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals, an output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal, said transducer means comprising first transducer circuit means for changing each received one of said AC bursts to a corresponding pulse having a pulse width corresponding to said AC burst length, integrator means connected to said first transducer circuit means for furnishing an integrator signal having a peak amplitude corresponding to said pulse width, and a plurality of threshold circuit means each having an input connected to said integrator means and a threshold output, for furnishing a threshold output signal at said threshold output when the amplitude of said integrator signal is a corresponding predetermined amplitude, each of said threshold circuit means comprising flip-flop means having a SET input connected to said integrator means, a Y output for furnishing said threshold output signal and a Y output for furnishing a signal in the absence of said threshold output signal; and summing circuit means connected to said threshold circuit means for furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 22

A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said transducer means are connected to a given telephone line; wherein said transducer means comprise a plurality of transducer means corresponding in number to the plurality of participants connected to said telephone line; further comprising a plurality of counter means corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, each for furnishing a counter output signal signifying the total number of participants connected to said telephone line who have selected a corresponding one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 23

A system as set forth in claim 19, further comprising scanning means interconnected between each of said counter means and the corresponding ones of said transducer outputs, for connecting each of said corresponding ones of said transducer outputs to said counter means in a predetermined sequence.

Claim 24

A system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said summing circuit means comprise a plurality of analog adder means, each having a plurality of analog adder inputs each connected to a corresponding transducer output, each of said analog adder means furnishing an analog adder output signal signifying the total number of response signals having a given burst length.

Claim 25

A system as set forth in claim 21, further comprising analog-digital converter means connected to the output of each of said analog adder means.

Claim 26

A system as set forth in claim 22, further comprising counter means connected to the outputs of said analog-digital converter means, for furnishing counter output signals corresponding to said analog adder output signals.

Claim 27

A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein a plurality of said private communication lines are connected to said computation station; further comprising means converting said counter output signals received on said communication lines and corresponding to a given one of said plurality of responses to pulse trains each having a number of pulses corresponding to the corresponding one of said counter output signals; shift register means receiving said pulses and furnishing corresponding shift register outputs; and full adder means for adding each of said shift register outputs to the sum of previously received shift register outputs thereby furnishing adder output signals signifying, following the addition of the last of said counter output signals, the total number of participants choosing a selected one of said plurality of responses.

Claim 28

A system as set forth in claim 12, further comprising computer circuit means at said central station, for receiving said input signals and said control signals and furnishing a computer output signal signifying the percentage of participants tuned to a given one of said television channels as a function thereof.

Claim 29

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a telephone network normally transmitting signals within a low frequency band comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input signal signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a frequency higher than the frequencies in said low frequency band, each of said input means comprising a manually operable selector means having a plurality of selector elements and converter means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal, said converter means comprising burst furnishing means for furnishing an A C burst having the same predetermined frequency but a different predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements, said burst furnishing means comprising first oscillator means for furnishing an oscillator output signal, AND-gate means having a first input connected to said oscillator means, a second input, and an output for furnishing said input signal in response to the simultaneous presence of signals at said first and second inputs, a plurality of timing elements, timing circuit means for furnishing timing pulses having a pulse width varying in dependence upon the timing element connected thereto, and timing element selector means for connecting a corresponding one of said plurality of timing elements to said timing circuit means in response to the operation of each of said selector elements, said timing element selector means comprising a plurality of relay means corresponding in number to said plurality of timing elements, each of said relay means having a relay coil energized in response to activation of the corresponding one of said selector elements, and a pair of relay contacts connecting the corresponding one of said timing elements to said timing circuit means upon energization of the corresponding relay coil; connecting means connecting each of said outputs of said AND-gate means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network, thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station, said connecting means comprising filter means having a bandpass including the frequency of said input signals, and rejecting all other frequencies; and summing circuit means at said central station, for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses and furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 30

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a telephone network normally transmitting signals within a low frequency band comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input signal signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a frequency higher than the frequencies in said low frequency band, each of said input means comprising a manually operable selector means having a plurality of selector elements and converter means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal, said converter means comprising burst furnishing means for furnishing an A C burst having the same predetermined frequency but a different predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements, said burst furnishing means comprising first oscillator means for furnishing an oscillator output signal, AND-gate means having a first input connected to said oscillator means, a second input, and an output for furnishing said input signal in response to the simultaneous presence of signals at said first and second inputs, a plurality of timing elements, timing circuit means for furnishing timing pulses having a pulse width varying in dependence upon the timing element connected thereto, and timing element selector means for connecting a corresponding one of said plurality of timing elements to said timing circuit means in response to the operation of each of said selector elements, said timing element selector means comprising a plurality of relay means corresponding in number to said plurality of timing elements, each of said relay means having a relay coil energized in response to activation of the corresponding one of said selector elements, and a pair of relay contacts connecting the corresponding one of said timing elements to said timing circuit means upon energization of the corresponding relay coil; connecting means connecting each of said outputs of said AND-gate means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network, thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station, said connecting means comprising filter means having a bandpass including the frequency of said input signals, and rejecting all other frequencies; and summing circuit means at said central station, for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses and furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 31

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a telephone network normally transmitting signals within a low frequency band comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input signal signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a frequency higher than the frequencies in said low frequency band, each of said input means comprising a manually operable selector means having a plurality of selector elements and converter means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal, said converter means comprising burst furnishing means for furnishing an AC burst having the same predetermined frequency but a different predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements, said burst furnishing means comprising oscillator means for furnishing an oscillator output signal for the duration of a timing signal applied thereto, timing circuit means for furnishing said timing signal, varying means interconnected between said selector elements and said timing circuit means for varying the duration of said timing signals to correspond to the selected one of said selector elements, and suppressor means connected to the output of said oscillator means for suppressing the initial portion of said oscillator output signal; connecting means for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; and summing circuit means at said central station, for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses, and furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 32

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a telephone network normally transmitting signals within a low frequency band comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, each for furnishing, upon operation, an input signal signifying a selected one of a plurality of predetermined responses, said input signal having a frequency higher than the frequencies in said low frequency band, each of said input means comprising a manually operable selector means having a plurality of selector elements and converter means responsive to the operation of any of said selector elements for furnishing a corresponding input signal, said converter means comprising burst furnishing means for furnishing an AC burst having the same predetermined frequency but a different predetermined burst length in response to operation of each of said selector elements, said burst furnishing means comprising oscillator means for furnishing an oscillator output signal for the duration of a timing signal applied thereto, timing circuit means for furnishing said timing signal, varying means interconnected between said selector elements and said timing circuit means for varying the duration of said timing signals to correspond to the selected one of said selector elements, and suppressor means connected to the output of said oscillator means for suppressing the initial portion of said oscillator output signal; connecting means for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; and summing circuit means at said central station, for summing all response signals signifying each of said predetermined responses, and furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 33

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a communication system normally transmitting signals within a predetermined frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, for furnishing, upon operation, an AC burst having a predetermined frequency outside of said predetermined frequency band and a burst length corresponding to said selected one of said plurality of predetermined responses; connecting means for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network, thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; transducer means at said central station, said transducer means having an input connected to said communications network and a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals, an output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal, said transducer means comprising first transducer circuit means for changing each received one of said AC bursts to a corresponding pulse having a pulse width corresponding to said AC burst length, integrator means connected to said first transducer circuit means for furnishing an integrator signal having a peak amplitude corresponding to said pulse width, and a plurality of threshold circuit means each having an input connected to said integrator means and a threshold output, for furnishing a threshold output signal at said threshold output when the amplitude of said integrator signal is a corresponding predetermined amplitude; and summing circuit means connected to said threshold circuit means for furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 34

Public opinion research system for polling a plurality of participants each having access to a communication system normally transmitting signals within a predetermined frequency band, comprising, in combination, a plurality of selectively operable input means, one for each of said participants, for furnishing, upon operation, an AC burst having a predetermined frequency outside of said predetermined frequency band and a burst length corresponding to said selected one of said plurality of predetermined responses; connecting means for connecting each of said input means to said communications network in such a manner that each of said input signals is transmitted to a central station of said communications network, thereby furnishing a corresponding plurality of response signals at said central station; transducer means at said central station, said transducer means having an input connected to said communications network and a plurality of transducer outputs corresponding in number to said plurality of predetermined responses, for furnishing, in response to each of said response signals, an output signal at the one of said transducer outputs corresponding to the burst length of said response signal, said transducer means comprising first transducer circuit means for changing each received one of said AC bursts to a corresponding pulse having a pulse width corresponding to said AC burst length, integrator means connected to said first transducer circuit means for furnishing an integrator signal having a peak amplitude corresponding to said pulse width, and a plurality of threshold circuit means each having an input connected to said integrator means and a threshold output, for furnishing a threshold output signal at said threshold output when the amplitude of said integrator signal is a corresponding predetermined amplitude; and summing circuit means connected to said threshold circuit means for furnishing a plurality of output signals, each signifying the total number of participants selecting a given one of said predetermined responses.

Claim 35

A system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said flip-flop means are arranged in a predetermined order corresponding to increasing AC burst length; further comprising a plurality of threshold AND-gates each having a first input connected to said Y output of a determined one of said flip-flops and a second input connected to said y output of the next subsequent one of said flip-flops in said predetermined order.