US5334975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Residential time reference system
Assignee: Arris Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1991-07-16
•
Granted: 1994-08-02
•
Expires: 2011-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and provides for transmitting a time reference throughout a residence or other facility for use by appliances operating within the facility. A time reference is received from the headend of a cable television (CATV) system at the subscriber converter and is retransmitted to set the internal clock timers of residential appliances throughout the house. The time reference is received by the CATV converter, then encoded and modulated for transmission on the residential AC wiring system which also carries AC power to all of the appliances in the house. Individual appliances receive the encoded time reference from the AC power line, demodulate the received signal and use the received time reference to set its internal clock timer. In such manner, a residential appliance does not need to have its internal clock set by the consumer.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Wachob
- 👤 Hal M. Krisbergh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/86; G; G04; G04C; G04C13/00; G04C13/02; G04C13/027; G04G; G04G5/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/76; H04H20/84; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04N7/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for distributing the current time throughout a facility, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to the AC power line wiring of said facility, said appliance having an internal clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said AC power line wiring of said facility; receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line wiring at said appliance; and setting said internal clock of said appliance responsive to said received second time reference message to said current time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for distributing the current time throughout a facility, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to the AC power line wiring of said facility, said appliance having an internal clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said AC power line wiring of said facility; receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line wiring at said appliance; and setting said internal clock of said appliance responsive to said received second time reference message to said current time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said broadcast video communication channel comprises a CATV system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said broadcast video communication channel comprises a direct broadcast satellite system.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for distributing the current time throughout a facility having an AC power line wiring, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to said wiring of said facility, said appliance including an internal clock having means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; and retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said wiring of said facility.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for distributing the current time throughout a facility having an AC power line wiring, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to said wiring of said facility, said appliance including an internal clock having means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; and retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said wiring of said facility.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for distributing a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance having an internal clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said AC power line; and receiving said second time reference message including said time reference data corresponding to said current time on said AC power line at said appliance.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for distributing a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance having an internal clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said AC power line; and receiving said second time reference message including said time reference data corresponding to said current time on said AC power line at said appliance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step of receiving said first time reference message including time reference data comprises generating day data from the date data received in said received time reference data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step of transmitting said first time reference data comprises modulating a spread spectrum data encoded signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step of receiving said second time reference data comprises demodulating a spread spectrum data encoded signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
136 words
A method in a CATV converter for distributing the current time including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance including an internal clock having means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; and retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said AC power line.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
136 words
A method in a CATV converter for distributing the current time including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance including an internal clock having means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; and retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message on said AC power line.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for distributing the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance having an internal clock, said appliance being connected to said AC power line, and said clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data corresponding to said current time; retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data as said second time reference message on said AC power line; receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data corresponding to said current time; and transferring said time reference data corresponding to said current time to said internal clock of said appliance.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
196 words
A method for distributing the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance having an internal clock, said appliance being connected to said AC power line, and said clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said method comprising: receiving at said converter said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data corresponding to said current time; retransmitting from said converter said received time reference data as said second time reference message on said AC power line; receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data corresponding to said current time; and transferring said time reference data corresponding to said current time to said internal clock of said appliance.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for providing the current time for an appliance in a facility connected to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and said appliance having an internal clock coupled to said AC power line, said internal clock including means for reading time reference data transferred thereto and setting the time of said clock in response to said data, said facility further including a CATV converter for receiving a first time reference message including said time reference data corresponding to the current time from said CATV system, demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data, and retransmitting said received time reference data as a second time reference message on said AC power line, said method comprising: receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data corresponding to said current time; and transferring said time reference data to said internal clock of said appliance to set said internal clock of said appliance to said current time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for providing the current time for an appliance in a facility connected to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and said appliance having an internal clock coupled to said AC power line, said internal clock including means for reading time reference data transferred thereto and setting the time of said clock in response to said data, said facility further including a CATV converter for receiving a first time reference message including said time reference data corresponding to the current time from said CATV system, demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data, and retransmitting said received time reference data as a second time reference message on said AC power line, said method comprising: receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data corresponding to said current time; and transferring said time reference data to said internal clock of said appliance to set said internal clock of said appliance to said current time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for distributing the current time throughout a facility, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to the AC power line wiring of said facility, said appliance having an internal clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; second means connected to said first means for retransmitting said received time reference data as said second time reference message corresponding to said current time on said AC power line wiring of said facility; means for receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line wiring at said appliance; and means for setting said internal clock of said appliance responsive to said received second time reference message to said current time.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
188 words
An apparatus for distributing the current time throughout a facility, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to the AC power line wiring of said facility, said appliance having an internal clock including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; second means connected to said first means for retransmitting said received time reference data as said second time reference message corresponding to said current time on said AC power line wiring of said facility; means for receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line wiring at said appliance; and means for setting said internal clock of said appliance responsive to said received second time reference message to said current time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said broadcast video communication channel comprises a CATV system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein said broadcast video communication channel comprises a direct broadcast satellite system.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for distributing the current time throughout a facility having an AC power wiring, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to said wiring of said facility, said appliance including means for reading and responding to a time reference message delivered thereto, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; and second means connected to said first means for retransmitting said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as a second time reference message to said appliance on said wiring of said facility.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for distributing the current time throughout a facility having an AC power wiring, said facility being connected by means of a converter to a broadcast video communication channel including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, and having at least one appliance connected to said wiring of said facility, said appliance including means for reading and responding to a time reference message delivered thereto, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said broadcast video communication channel; and second means connected to said first means for retransmitting said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as a second time reference message to said appliance on said wiring of said facility.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for distributing a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance having an internal clock and including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to receipt of said second message, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; second means connected to said first means for retransmitting said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message corresponding to said current time on said AC power line; and means for receiving said second time reference message including said time reference data corresponding to said current time on said AC power line at said appliance.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for distributing a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance having an internal clock and including means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to receipt of said second message, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; second means connected to said first means for retransmitting said received time reference data corresponding to said current time as said second time reference message corresponding to said current time on said AC power line; and means for receiving said second time reference message including said time reference data corresponding to said current time on said AC power line at said appliance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data comprises means for generating day data from the date data received in said received time reference data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for transmitting said first time reference data comprises means for modulating a spread spectrum data encoded signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for receiving said second time reference data comprises means for demodulating a spread spectrum data encoded signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus in a CATV converter for distributing a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected to a CATV system by means of said converter, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance including an internal clock having means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; and means for retransmitting said received time reference data as said second time reference message corresponding to said current time on said AC power line.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus in a CATV converter for distributing a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time in a facility connected to a CATV system by means of said converter, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance connected to said AC power line, said appliance including an internal clock having means for reading a second time reference message and setting the time of said clock in response to said second message, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data corresponding to said current time from said CATV system; and means for retransmitting said received time reference data as said second time reference message corresponding to said current time on said AC power line.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for distributing the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance having an internal clock, said appliance being connected to said AC power line and including means for reading time reference data transferred to said clock and resetting said clock in response to said data, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data from said CATV system; second means connected to said first means for demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data; third means connected to said second means for retransmitting said received time reference data as a second time reference message on said AC power line; means for receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; means for demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data; and means for transferring said time reference data to said internal clock of said appliance.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for distributing the current time in a facility connected by means of a converter to a CATV system including a first time reference message having time reference data corresponding to the current time, said facility having an AC power line, and at least one appliance having an internal clock, said appliance being connected to said AC power line and including means for reading time reference data transferred to said clock and resetting said clock in response to said data, said apparatus comprising: first means connected to said converter for receiving said first time reference message including time reference data from said CATV system; second means connected to said first means for demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data; third means connected to said second means for retransmitting said received time reference data as a second time reference message on said AC power line; means for receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; means for demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data; and means for transferring said time reference data to said internal clock of said appliance.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for providing the current time for an appliance in a facility connected to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, said appliance having an internal clock including means for setting the time of said clock, and said appliance being coupled to said AC power line, said facility further including a CATV converter for receiving a first time reference message corresponding to the current time including time reference data from said CATV system, demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data, and retransmitting said received time reference data as a second time reference message on said AC power line, said apparatus comprising: first means for receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; second means connected to said first means for demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data; and third means for reading said recovered time reference data for activating said time setting means for setting said internal clock of said appliance to said current time.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
175 words
An apparatus for providing the current time for an appliance in a facility connected to a CATV system, said facility having an AC power line, said appliance having an internal clock including means for setting the time of said clock, and said appliance being coupled to said AC power line, said facility further including a CATV converter for receiving a first time reference message corresponding to the current time including time reference data from said CATV system, demodulating said first time reference message to recover said time reference data, and retransmitting said received time reference data as a second time reference message on said AC power line, said apparatus comprising: first means for receiving said second time reference message on said AC power line at said appliance; second means connected to said first means for demodulating said second time reference message to recover said time reference data; and third means for reading said recovered time reference data for activating said time setting means for setting said internal clock of said appliance to said current time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |