US4361903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data transmission process in a CATV system
Assignee: Pioneer Corp
•
Filing: 1980-07-30
•
Granted: 1982-11-30
•
Expires: 2000-07-30
Abstract
Abstract In a bidirectional CATV system, terminal devices at individual subscriber locations are arranged in sets, with each terminal device in a set being coupled to an intermediate polling processor which includes means for storing status data as to each of the terminal devices. The head end system polls the intermediate processors for their consolidated reports, with the result that tens of thousands of subscriber locations can be serviced without inordinate delays by a single head end system.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshitsugu Ohta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354; H04N2007/17372
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of interrogating terminal devices by a head end in a cable television system comprising the steps of: addressably interrogating a set of addressable terminal devices at each of a plurality of addressable data transmitting and processing devices, each addressable terminal device being coupled to an associated data transmitting and processing device by a conductor, receiving a plurality of selectable television signals over the conductor, receiving interrogation signals over the conductor, and transmitting terminal information over the conductor in response to an interrogation signal containing an address of said addressable terminal device, receiving and storing at each addressable data transmitting and processing device, terminal data transmitted by each addressable terminal device coupled thereto over the conductor device in response to an interrogation; addressably interrogating each addressable data transmitting and processing device at a head end, each addressable data transmitting and processing device being coupled to the head end by a conductor and transmitting over the conductor in response to a single addressable interrogation containing a respective address thereof stored terminal data for each addressable terminal device associated therewith.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of interrogating terminal devices by a head end in a cable television system comprising the steps of: addressably interrogating a set of addressable terminal devices at each of a plurality of addressable data transmitting and processing devices, each addressable terminal device being coupled to an associated data transmitting and processing device by a conductor, receiving a plurality of selectable television signals over the conductor, receiving interrogation signals over the conductor, and transmitting terminal information over the conductor in response to an interrogation signal containing an address of said addressable terminal device, receiving and storing at each addressable data transmitting and processing device, terminal data transmitted by each addressable terminal device coupled thereto over the conductor device in response to an interrogation; addressably interrogating each addressable data transmitting and processing device at a head end, each addressable data transmitting and processing device being coupled to the head end by a conductor and transmitting over the conductor in response to a single addressable interrogation containing a respective address thereof stored terminal data for each addressable terminal device associated therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
A bidirectional CATV system comprising: a head end system transmitting polling signals, each polling signal indicating a data transmitting and processing device address, and also transmitting different program materials on various channels; a plurality of terminal devices, each associated with a different subscriber, and each including addressable means for providing data as to the status of the terminal device including an indication of whether at least certain channels are being used by the associated subscriber; a number of transmitting and processing devices, each including means for polling a different associated set of terminal devices, means for storing data received from the polled terminal devices, and addressable means including transmitting means for providing consolidated status reports from the stored data as to the set of associated terminal devices in response to a polling signal indicating an address of the transmitting and processing device; and bidirectional cable network means coupling the head end system to the transmitting and processing devices, and each transmitting and processing device to the set of terminal devices associated therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
A bidirectional CATV system comprising: a head end system transmitting polling signals, each polling signal indicating a data transmitting and processing device address, and also transmitting different program materials on various channels; a plurality of terminal devices, each associated with a different subscriber, and each including addressable means for providing data as to the status of the terminal device including an indication of whether at least certain channels are being used by the associated subscriber; a number of transmitting and processing devices, each including means for polling a different associated set of terminal devices, means for storing data received from the polled terminal devices, and addressable means including transmitting means for providing consolidated status reports from the stored data as to the set of associated terminal devices in response to a polling signal indicating an address of the transmitting and processing device; and bidirectional cable network means coupling the head end system to the transmitting and processing devices, and each transmitting and processing device to the set of terminal devices associated therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3668307A
Cited
US3733430A
Cited
US4090220A
Cited
US4025851A
Cited
DE2725250A1
Cited
US4290142A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-05-31 | 1986-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-29 | 1990-05-31 | 1990-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-29 | 1994-05-31 | 1994-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |