US5589872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compatible interactive TV and multimedia delivery system two-way cable TV conversion system for data transmission over a dedicated frequency band
Assignee: Radio Telcom and Technology Inc
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Filing: 1995-09-11
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Granted: 1996-12-31
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Expires: 2015-09-11
Abstract
Abstract A bidirectional cable television system provides for transmission of signals from cable subscribers downlink in the same direction as the ensemble of television channels which the cable television system is already constructed to deliver. The subscriber signals may be transmitted over the cable in the blanking intervals of a cable television channel, using the T-NET technique described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,036. Alternatively, the signals may be carried over a dedicated channel, or transmitted cochannel along a cable television channel carrying ordinary programming by adding the subscriber information to alternating video frames in alternating polarity to achieve visual cancellation. The subscriber signals are collected after the last distribution line amplifier in the cable downlink. The collected signals are transmitted to a central receiver via wireless or other customary means such as a modem. The collected signals may alternatively be transmitted over the air to the central receiver in the blanking intervals of a broadcast television channel using the T-NET technique.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Martinez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/87; G01S13/878; H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04B7/2621; H04L; H04L27/00; H04L27/18; H04L27/20; H04L27/2032; H04L27/2053; H04L27/206; H04L27/2067; H04L27/2071; H04L5/00; H04L5/02; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/084; H04N7/085; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04W; H04W64/00; H04N2007/17372
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In an interactive television system, a method for communicating information to at least one central receiver from at least one remote receiver location, each remote receiver location connected to a cable television system, the cable television system for transmitting at least one video signal in a downlink direction over at least one cable, the at least one cable having at least one amplifier along the at least one cable, each amplifier serving at least one remote location, the method comprising the steps of: (i) at at least one remote location: (a) modulating the information to be communicated from the at least one remote location onto a first carrier; (b) transmitting the modulated first carrier of step (i)(a) onto the at least one cable only during at least some of the blanking intervals of a first cable channel; (ii) after at least one cable amplifier in the downlink direction from the at least one remote location: (a) detecting the modulated information received on the at least one cable and retransmitting the modulated information over the air on a second carrier in a dedicated frequency band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an interactive television system, a method for communicating information to at least one central receiver from at least one remote receiver location, each remote receiver location connected to a cable television system, the cable television system for transmitting at least one video signal in a downlink direction over at least one cable, the at least one cable having at least one amplifier along the at least one cable, each amplifier serving at least one remote location, the method comprising the steps of: (i) at at least one remote location: (a) modulating the information to be communicated from the at least one remote location onto a first carrier; (b) transmitting the modulated first carrier of step (i)(a) onto the at least one cable only during at least some of the blanking intervals of a first cable channel; (ii) after at least one cable amplifier in the downlink direction from the at least one remote location: (a) detecting the modulated information received on the at least one cable and retransmitting the modulated information over the air on a second carrier in a dedicated frequency band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one cable amplifier is a last cable amplifier in the downlink direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated frequency band is a microwave frequency band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: (iii) at at least one central location: (a) receiving the transmissions of step (ii)(a) and detecting the information therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 1, wherein after the at least one amplifer the at least one cable comprises a first distribution line and a second distribution line branching from a splitter, and the transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting the modulated first carder onto the first distribution line, and the step of detecting and retransmitting comprises the step of detecting the modulated information on the second distribution line and retransmitting the modulated information from the second distribution line, wherein the fast and second distribution lines comprise a cable television cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one amplifier is unidirectional in the downlink direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: before modulating the information, receiving the information from a wireless remote control device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the remote control device transmits the information over an infrared communications link to the at least one remote location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the remote control device transmits the information over a radio frequency link to the at least one remote location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of modulating the information by a code division multiple access (CDMA) technique before the remote control device transmits the information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the remote location comprises a repeater, the method further comprising the step of: before modulating the information, receiving the information from a wireless transmitter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless transmitter is a cordless telephone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
211 words
In an interactive television system, a method for communicating information to at least one central receiver from at least one remote receiver location, each remote receiver location connected to a cable television system, the cable television system for transmitting at least one video signal in a downlink direction over at least one cable, the at least one cable having at least one amplifier at various points along the at least one cable, each amplifier serving at least one remote location, the method comprising the steps of: (i) at at least one remote location: (a) receiving from at least one remote control device at least one wireless signal conveying the information to be communicated, wherein the information is in CDMA signal form; (b) modulating the information to be communicated from the at lease one remote location onto a first carrier in the frequency band of a first cable channel, wherein the first cable channel is dedicated to the transmission of the at least one CDMA signal; (ii) after at least one cable amplifier in the downlink direction from the at least one remote location: (a) detecting the modulated information received on the first cable channel and retransmitting the modulated information over the air on a second carrier in a dedicated frequency band.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
211 words
In an interactive television system, a method for communicating information to at least one central receiver from at least one remote receiver location, each remote receiver location connected to a cable television system, the cable television system for transmitting at least one video signal in a downlink direction over at least one cable, the at least one cable having at least one amplifier at various points along the at least one cable, each amplifier serving at least one remote location, the method comprising the steps of: (i) at at least one remote location: (a) receiving from at least one remote control device at least one wireless signal conveying the information to be communicated, wherein the information is in CDMA signal form; (b) modulating the information to be communicated from the at lease one remote location onto a first carrier in the frequency band of a first cable channel, wherein the first cable channel is dedicated to the transmission of the at least one CDMA signal; (ii) after at least one cable amplifier in the downlink direction from the at least one remote location: (a) detecting the modulated information received on the first cable channel and retransmitting the modulated information over the air on a second carrier in a dedicated frequency band.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the remote location comprises a repeater, and the remote control device is a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting voice or data signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitter is a cordless telephone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one cable amplifier is a last cable amplifier in the downlink direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of: (iii) at at least one central location: (a) receiving the transmissions of step (ii)(a) and detecting the information therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 13, wherein after the at least one amplifer the at least one cable comprises a first distribution line and a second distribution line branching from a splitter, and the transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting the modulated first carrier onto the first distribution line, and the step of detecting and retransmitting comprises the step of detecting the modulated information on the second distribution line and retransmitting the modulated information from the second distribution line, wherein the first and second distribution lines comprise a cable television cell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one amplifier is unidirectional in the downlink direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
163 words
An interactive cable television system for communicating information from at least one remote location along at least one cable, the system comprising: at least one amplifier along the at least one cable for amplifying signals communicated along the at least one cable; a cable head transmitter for transmitting at least one video signal downlink over the at least one cable; a remote transmitter having: a CDMA modulator for CDMA modulating the information to be transmitted; a first transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal conveying the modulated information; a relay module coupled to the at least one cable for receiving the wireless signal, and for transmitting the modulated information onto the at least one cable in the frequency band of a dedicated first cable channel; and a multiplexed receiver/transmitter, coupled to the at least one cable after at least one amplifier in a downlink direction from the relay module, for detecting the modulated information and for retransmitting the modulated information to a central receiver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
163 words
An interactive cable television system for communicating information from at least one remote location along at least one cable, the system comprising: at least one amplifier along the at least one cable for amplifying signals communicated along the at least one cable; a cable head transmitter for transmitting at least one video signal downlink over the at least one cable; a remote transmitter having: a CDMA modulator for CDMA modulating the information to be transmitted; a first transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal conveying the modulated information; a relay module coupled to the at least one cable for receiving the wireless signal, and for transmitting the modulated information onto the at least one cable in the frequency band of a dedicated first cable channel; and a multiplexed receiver/transmitter, coupled to the at least one cable after at least one amplifier in a downlink direction from the relay module, for detecting the modulated information and for retransmitting the modulated information to a central receiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the multiplexed receiver/transmitter is coupled to the at least one cable after a last amplifier in the downlink direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 20, wherein after the at least one amplifier, the at least one cable comprises a cable television cell including a splitter, and a first distribution line and a second distribution line branching from the splitter, the relay module includes circuitry for transmitting the modulated information onto the first distribution line, and the receiver/transmitter includes circuitry for detecting the modulated information on the second distribution line and for retransmitting the modulated information from the second distribution line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver transmitter includes circuitry for retransmitting the modulated information on a second carrier over the air during at least some of the blanking intervals of a first broadcast channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver transmitter includes circuitry for retransmitting the modulated information on a second carrier over the air in a dedicated frequency band.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver transmitter includes circuitry for retransmitting the modulated information onto a telephone line.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one amplifier is unidirectional in the downlink direction.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 20, further comprising an auxiliary program source for transmitting at least one auxiliary information signal to at least one remote location in a downlink direction along the cable only during at least some of the blanking intervals of a cable channel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
141 words
The system of claim 20, further comprising an auxiliary program source for transmitting at least one auxiliary information signal to at least one remote location in a downlink direction along the cable, the program source including circuitry for transmitting the at least one auxiliary information signal onto at least part of the at least one video signal in a first polarity during one video frame of the at least one video signal, and for transmitting the at least one auxiliary information signal onto a corresponding part of the at least one video signal in an opposite polarity during a next video frame of the at least one video signal to produce visual cancellation of the auxiliary information signal, wherein the information is transmitted in a spectral region different from that including a chroma subcarrier of the at least one video signal.
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) | 1999-12-31 | 2000-07-01 | 2000-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-31 | 2004-07-01 | 2004-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-31 | 2008-07-01 | 2008-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |