CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND MULTIPLE RECEIVER SYSTEM

• US 3,602,891 A
• Filed: 03/10/1969
• Issued: 08/31/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Research Corporation A New York Non-Profit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Molnar, Wesley A. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Wesley A., Molnar, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US04/805,548
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 178/69.5,4.1 325/55,58,54 340/172.5 235/151
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture

Abstract

Continuous broadcast of computer programs and instructions for selector utilization by remote data processors. An information transmission and multiple receiver system wherein the transmitter continuously repeats transmissions of data primarily consisting of instructions such as programs, routines and subroutines from its relatively large central memory. Each receiver can be directed to any selected portion of the continuous stream of transmitted data for storage of the selected data in a relatively small memory for ultimate use by any suitable processor. Transmitted data is automatically coded in plural bit words and groups of words are automatically coded in word blocks. The receiver automatically detects receipt of a selected word block and automatically processes the words within the selected word block into its memory in a directed program. As a result of this system and process, individual, low-power data processors at each receiver are empowered with a much greater processing capability from the program data broadcast from the transmitter'"'"''"'"'s large central memory and selectively stored in the receiver'"'"''"'"'s smaller memory.

Claims

1. A transmission and receiver system comprising at least one transmitter and a plurality of receivers, the transmitter including a memory storage device for storing groups of data signals comprising computer programs, means to address the memory storage device to identify portions of the stored data signals that are to be read out of the memory storage device according to a predetermined schedule, means to read out groups of the data signals thus identified continuously from the memory storage device, means to transmit the groups of data signals read out from the memory storage device to a transmitting station for transmission thereby as a continuous broadcast, each receiver comprising means to receive the continuous broadcast including the data signals transmitted thereby, means to generate synchronizing signals in the transmitter, means to synchronize the data signals transmitted by the transmitter with the synchronizing signals, means to generate synchronizing signals in the receiver synchronized to the transmitter synchronizing signals, and means to synchronize the data signals received by the receiver with the synchronizing signals generated by the receiver, a processor having a memory section, each receiver having means to identify selected ones of the plurality of data groups for transfer to its memory section, and means to transfer the thus identified plurality of data groups to the memory section of the processor thereby making the data signals comprising computer programs available for use by each processor to increaSe the information processing capability of each processor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter has means controlled by the address means for generating coding signals to identify specific pluralities of the said groups of data signals, means to add the identifying signals at predetermined times to the groups of data signals prior to transmission thereof to enable identification of selected ones of the plurality of groups of data signals, the receiver having a comparator, means to provide the comparator with other signals identifying a specific plurality of groups of data signals that is to be selected for storage in the memory section, the comparator having means to compare the identifying signals with the data signals received by the receiver, and means controlled by the comparator and responsive to a match of signals sensed by the comparator for enabling the receiver to transfer groups of data signals to its memory section.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the synchronizing signals generated by the transmitter comprise color television black burst signals and the receiver includes a television receiver front end unit for receiving the transmitted signals and for generating the synchronizing signals.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the transmitter includes means to generate a standard color television carrier signal, means including a color television modulator for modulating the carrier signal with the groups of data signals and the black burst signals, and the receiver includes a color television signal demodulator for demodulating the modulated carrier signal to produce the groups of data signals and the black burst signal.

5. A method for using a system of one or more transmitters and a plurality of receivers for the continuous broadcast of computer programs to the receivers for selective utilization at the receivers to process information comprising the steps of storing the computer programs in the form of information bits in a central memory at the transmitter reading out the information bits from the central memory in a predetermined order, continuously transmitting the information bits in a broadcast stream, at each receiver identifying a selected portion of the broadcast stream, and writing the selected portion of the broadcast stream into a local memory storage unit at the said receiver and using the information thus stored for the purpose of programmed operation of an information processing part of each receiver.

6. The method of claim 5 including the steps of coding portions of the serial broadcast stream to identify the content thereof, the said steps of identifying a selected portion of the serial broadcast stream including the step of comparing the received signals with predetermined signals.

7. The method of claim 6 including synchronizing the information bits with a standard color television black burst signal.

8. The method of claim 6 including the steps of collecting predetermined numbers of the information bits as words, and grouping predetermined numbers of the words in groups, each said code identifying a word group.

9. The method of claim 5 including the steps of converting the information bits to analog signals prior to transmission thereof, and converting the analog signals to digital signals following receipt thereof by the receivers.

10. A method a communicating logical information comprising computer programs from a central storage source to a plurality of receivers for processing information at the receivers utilizing selected portions of the logical information to increase the information processing information at the receivers comprising the steps of continuously repeating the cycle of extracting information bits comprising computer programs in a predetermined sequence from a memory storage device containing the computer programs, coding as words predetermined groups of the computer program information bits, generating synchronizer signals, synchronizing the computer program information bits with the sYnchronizer signals, transmitting in a continuous broadcast the synchronized computer program information bits as a continuously repeating cycle of signals to a plurality of independent receivers, selecting independently at each receiver portions of the transmitted computer program information bits, and at each receiver writing the portions of computer program information bits selected by that receiver into a memory unit for use of the selected computer programs to process information at the receiver.

11. The method of claim 10 including the step of coding predetermined portions of the computer program data bits according to subject matter prior to transmission thereof, and selecting the said portion after receipt thereof by a receiver by designating the particular coding therefor.

12. A method of using broadcast apparatus to increase the information processing capability of a plurality of individual receivers comprising the steps of continuously broadcasting a repeating cycle of computer programs derived from a relatively large information storage device, at each receiver selectively identifying portions of the broadcast programs according to which programs are to be used at each receiver, directing the selected portions of computer programs thus identified to a memory section of each receiver, and independently utilizing the computer programs stored in the memory section of each receiver to process information by a processor at that receiver.

13. The method of claim 12 including the steps of addressing the memory storage device of shift information bits comprising words of computer programs in parallel from the memory storage device, converting the words to a serial stream of the information bits, converting the serial stream of information bits to an analog signal, broadcasting the analog signal for receipt by all the receivers, at each receiver reconverting the analog signal to a serial stream of information bits, at each receiver identifying from the serial stream of information bits selected groups of the information bits that are to be retained at that receiver by being directed to the memory section thereof.