US4079414A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interrogated transponder system
Assignee: Skiatron Electronics and Television Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-31
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1993-08-31
Abstract
Abstract Method for selectively interrogating decoding devices which are located at remote stations. In one embodiment, a number of transponders which make up a final group within a larger group of transponders, all attached to a common line running from a central station, are selected and simultaneously caused to retransmit modified interrogation signals in accordance with certain informational characteristics and the identity of each transponder retransmitting. The final group of transponders, which include respective decoding devices, chosen to be interrogated is selected by first sending a number n of tones of a larger group of tones m down a branch line to partially activate some of the decoding devices. These tones are followed by a smaller number of tones k chosen from the group n to which only the decoding devices in the final group respond. The system is particularly designed for use in a subscriber television network and specific circuitry for accomplishing the logical and electrical functions required are described.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert W. Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; H04Q9/08; H04Q9/12; G; G08; G08B; G08B26/00; G08B26/001; G08B26/003; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/09; H04H60/14; H04H60/21; H04H60/29; H04H60/32; H04H60/35; H04H60/38; H04H60/41; H04H60/43; H04H60/76; H04H60/81; H04H60/93; H04H60/96; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N2007/17372
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising: selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising: selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes logic circuitry which aides in determining information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its stored information on its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes logic circuitry which aides in determining information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its stored information on its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a pluality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its information on its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said subgroup.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a pluality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its information on its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said subgroup.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in reponse to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in reponse to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the n tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, an identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones, and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the n tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station, an identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising: selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones, then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup, to cause the interrogated transponders to transmit their return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising: selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones, then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup, to cause the interrogated transponders to transmit their return frequencies to the central station, and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein the step of then transmitting said second set of tones includes transmitting at least one tone of said set of k address tones for at least aiding in maintaining said selected subgroup of transponders selected during said interrogating thereof and return of frequencies therefrom.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder contains intelligence information and transponder identifying infomation to be set to a central station, the intelligence information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for sending said intelligence and transponder information to a central station by means of a return signal including preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of said transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones, then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup as to their respective intelligence information, to transmit their return frequencies with their intelligence information to the central station, identifying the individual transponders withn said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup, and identifying and correlating the intelligence information with the idenfified transponders.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder contains intelligence information and transponder identifying infomation to be set to a central station, the intelligence information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for sending said intelligence and transponder information to a central station by means of a return signal including preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of said transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones, then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup as to their respective intelligence information, to transmit their return frequencies with their intelligence information to the central station, identifying the individual transponders withn said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup, and identifying and correlating the intelligence information with the idenfified transponders.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 8 including before the said selecting of said subgroup the step of selecting a major group of said transponders, including said subgroup, by transmitting to all of said transponders each of said n tones selected from a larger available number of m tones.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes logic circuitry for aiding in determining information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for sending information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of said transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones, then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup, to cause the interrogated transponders to transmit their information on their return frequencies to the central station, identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said subgroup, and identifying and correlating the transmitted information with the identified transponders.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes logic circuitry for aiding in determining information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for sending information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising selecting a subgroup of said transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones, then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup, to cause the interrogated transponders to transmit their information on their return frequencies to the central station, identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said subgroup, and identifying and correlating the transmitted information with the identified transponders.
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) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |