US5450139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising a memory backup device
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-17
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2013-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for transmitting video signals includes a primary storage device having a plurality of storage units for storing and reading video signals selectively supplied thereto by a coupling circuit. An alternate storage device functions as a backup and receives and stores all of the video signals that are supplied to the primary storage device; and reads out therefrom the video signals which are in the process of being read from the primary storage device in the event a failure is detected in the primary storage device.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Haraguchi
- 👤 Kaichi Tatsuzawa
- 👤 Hiroyuki Yamauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/02; H04H60/06; H04H60/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising: source means for supplying a plurality of video signals; storage means having a plurality of storage units for selectively storing said plurality of video signals, respectively, and storage unit reading means for reading the stored video signals from said storage units; coupling means for receiving said plurality of video signals from the source means and for selectively supplying said plurality of video signals to said storage units of the storage means; alternate storage means connected with said source means for receiving and storing all of the plurality of video signals supplied by said source means and having an alternate storage reading means for selectively reading the video signals from the alternate storage means; selection means for selecting at least one of the video signals read from the storage means and the alternate storage means and for transmitting each selected video signal; and control means for controlling the source means, the coupling means, the alternate storage means and the selection means, the control means controlling the coupling means to selectively supply said video signals to a different storage unit in the storage means when the storage unit to which said video signals are initially supplied is incapable of storing video signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising: source means for supplying a plurality of video signals; storage means having a plurality of storage units for selectively storing said plurality of video signals, respectively, and storage unit reading means for reading the stored video signals from said storage units; coupling means for receiving said plurality of video signals from the source means and for selectively supplying said plurality of video signals to said storage units of the storage means; alternate storage means connected with said source means for receiving and storing all of the plurality of video signals supplied by said source means and having an alternate storage reading means for selectively reading the video signals from the alternate storage means; selection means for selecting at least one of the video signals read from the storage means and the alternate storage means and for transmitting each selected video signal; and control means for controlling the source means, the coupling means, the alternate storage means and the selection means, the control means controlling the coupling means to selectively supply said video signals to a different storage unit in the storage means when the storage unit to which said video signals are initially supplied is incapable of storing video signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source means re-supplies the video signals to said different storage unit in the storage means that were initially supplied when said coupling means is controlled to selectivity supply said video signals to said different storage unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control means controls the selection means to select the video signals read from said different storage unit prior to transmitting the selected video signals when the storage unit to which said video signals was initially selectively supplied is incapable of storing video signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of storage units of the storage means is a random access memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alternate storage means is a magneto-optical disk device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the video signals are commercial messages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source means is a reproduction device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each storage unit in the storage means is a disk drive device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selection means is operable to select a respective plurality of said video signals read from said plurality of storage units in said storage means and the alternate storage means and transmits said respective plurality of said video signals over a respective plurality of channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a number of storage units in the storage means is larger than a number of said channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means is operable to selectively supply said plurality of video signals to a respective plurality of said storage units of the storage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said coupling means is operable to supplying said plurality of video signals to all of the storage units in the storage means, and said control means is operable to control the storage means such that each of the storage units in the storage means selectively stores the video signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising: source means for supplying a plurality of video signals; storage means having a plurality of storage units for selectively storing said plurality of video signals, respectively, and storage unit reading means for reading the stored video signals from said storage units; coupling means for receiving said plurality of video signals from the source means and for selectively supplying said plurality of video signals to said storage units of the storage means; alternate storage means connected with said source means for receiving and storing all of the plurality of video signals supplied by said source means and having an alternate storage reading means for selectively reading the video signals from the alternate storage means; selection means for selecting at least one of the video signals read from the storage means and the alternate storage means and for transmitting each selected video signal; and control means controlling the source means, the coupling means, the alternate storage means and the selection means, the control means controlling the selection means to select the video signals read from the alternate storage means when the video signals cannot be read from the selected storage unit and to de-select the selected storage unit from which the video signals cannot be read.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising: source means for supplying a plurality of video signals; storage means having a plurality of storage units for selectively storing said plurality of video signals, respectively, and storage unit reading means for reading the stored video signals from said storage units; coupling means for receiving said plurality of video signals from the source means and for selectively supplying said plurality of video signals to said storage units of the storage means; alternate storage means connected with said source means for receiving and storing all of the plurality of video signals supplied by said source means and having an alternate storage reading means for selectively reading the video signals from the alternate storage means; selection means for selecting at least one of the video signals read from the storage means and the alternate storage means and for transmitting each selected video signal; and control means controlling the source means, the coupling means, the alternate storage means and the selection means, the control means controlling the selection means to select the video signals read from the alternate storage means when the video signals cannot be read from the selected storage unit and to de-select the selected storage unit from which the video signals cannot be read.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
237 words
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising: source means for supplying a plurality of video signals; storage means having a plurality of storage units for selectively storing said plurality of video signals, respectively, and storage unit reading means for reading the stored video signals from said storage units; coupling means for receiving said plurality of video signals from the source means and for selectively supplying said plurality of video signals to said storage units of the storage means; alternate storage means connected with said source means for receiving and storing all of the plurality of video signals supplied by said source means and having an alternate storage reading means for selectively reading the video signals from the alternate storage means; selection means for selecting at least one of the video signals read from the storage means and the alternate storage means and for transmitting each selected video signal; and control means for controlling the source means, the coupling means, the alternate storage means and the selection means, the control means controlling the selection means to select the video signals read from the alternate storage means when the video signals cannot be read from the selected storage unit, the control means controlling the coupling means to selectively supply said video signals to a different storage unit in the storage means when the video signals cannot be read from the storage unit to which said video signals are initially supplied.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
237 words
Apparatus for transmitting video signals comprising: source means for supplying a plurality of video signals; storage means having a plurality of storage units for selectively storing said plurality of video signals, respectively, and storage unit reading means for reading the stored video signals from said storage units; coupling means for receiving said plurality of video signals from the source means and for selectively supplying said plurality of video signals to said storage units of the storage means; alternate storage means connected with said source means for receiving and storing all of the plurality of video signals supplied by said source means and having an alternate storage reading means for selectively reading the video signals from the alternate storage means; selection means for selecting at least one of the video signals read from the storage means and the alternate storage means and for transmitting each selected video signal; and control means for controlling the source means, the coupling means, the alternate storage means and the selection means, the control means controlling the selection means to select the video signals read from the alternate storage means when the video signals cannot be read from the selected storage unit, the control means controlling the coupling means to selectively supply said video signals to a different storage unit in the storage means when the video signals cannot be read from the storage unit to which said video signals are initially supplied.
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) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |