Method of and apparatus for monitoring video-channel reception

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said data are injected in digital form in step (b) and are consecutively sensed in step (c) with the aid of a synchronizer controlling visual display of the incoming signals.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (c) is performed photoelectrically by a detector juxtaposed with the blanked area of said viewing screen.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (c) is performed electronically via a video-output of said receiver and a video processor connected to said video-output.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a video recorder and wherein step (c) is performed electronically via a video-output of said video-recorder and a video processor connected to said video-output.

Claim 7

A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the sensing of data in said blanked area as such in step (c) is used for automatically checking whether steps (a) and (b) were performed in a selected video-channel corresponding to the selected channel of the receiver and, in case that the result of said check is negative, for automatically changing the video-channel selected in the method until the result of said checking turns positive because of sensing of data in said blanked area.

Claim 8

In a telecommunication system wherein a television receiver at a location served by a plurality of transmitting stations, sending out video signals modulated on carrier frequencies representing different channels, is tunable to reproduce the video signals of a selected channel as a picture displayed on a viewing screen, the combination therewith of an apparatus interposed between a source of incoming carrier frequencies and a signal input of said receiver, said apparatus comprising pick-up means coupled with said receiver, synchronizing means operatively connected to said source for generating line-synchronizing and frame-synchronizing signals enabling said pick-up means to detect monitoring data replacing said video signals during a small fraction of a recurring frame cycle of a selected channel corresponding to a visually insignificant area of the picture, processing means connected to said pick-up means for accumulating the detected monitoring data and delivering same to an associated peripheral unit, and blanking means controlled by said synchronizing means and by said source for suppressing incoming video signals during a scan of said area and inserting said monitoring data into said area, wherein said processing means preferably includes a memory storing some or all of said monitoring data in a digitized form.

Claim 9

In a telecommunication system wherein a television receiver at a location served by a plurality of transmitting stations, sending out video signals modulated on carrier frequencies representing different channels, is tunable to reproduce the video signals of a selected channel as a picture displayed on a viewing screen, the combination therewith of an apparatus interposed between a source of incoming carrier frequencies and a signal input of said receiver, said apparatus comprising pick-up means coupled with said receiver, synchronizing means operatively connected to said source for generating line-synchronizing and frame-synchronizing signals enabling said pick-up means to detect monitoring data replacing said video signals during a small fraction of a recurring frame cycle of a selected channel corresponding to a visually insignificant area of the picture, processing means connected to said pick-up means for accumulating the detected monitoring data and delivering same to an associated peripheral unit, and blanking means controlled by said synchronizing means and by said source for suppressing incoming video signals during a scan of said area and inserting said monitoring data into said area, wherein said processing means preferably includes a memory storing some or all of said monitoring data in a digitized form.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said pick-up means comprises a photosensor juxtaposed with a minor area of said viewing screen illuminated by said monitoring data upon a display of said picture.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said photosensor is unobrusively disposed at a corner of said viewing screen.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said pick-up means comprises a video processor connected to a video output of said receiver as well as to an output of said synchronizing means.

Claim 13

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said receiver includes a video-recorder and wherein said pick-up means comprises a video processor connected to a video output of said video-recorder as well as to an output of said synchronizing means.

Claim 14

The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said apparatus further comprises automatic channel-selection means including tuner means and tuner control means controlled by said processing means and controlling said synchronizing means for automatically selecting a specific video-channel and changing said channel of said apparatus until said pick-up means in fact detects said monitoring data replacing said video signal indicating that said selected channel of said receiver set is identical with the selected channel of said apparatus.

Claim 15

The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said synchronizing means comprises oscillator means for producing an output signal only in said selected channel of said apparatus, said output signal being part of said monitoring data.