DATA STORAGE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

• US 3,651,471 A
• Filed: 03/02/1970
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl M. Solar, Donald E. Haselwood
• Original Assignee: Carl M. Solar, Donald E. Haselwood
• Inventors: Haselwood, Donald E., Solar, Carl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zache, Raulfe B.
• Application Number:
  US05/015,696
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 379/92.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/30 characterised by the use of a return channel, e.g. for collecting users' opinions, for returning broadcast space/time information or for requesting data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84

Abstract

A system for economically monitoring via telephone a large number of remotely located television receivers or the like. Remotely located data handling systems check the status of receiver groups once every 30 seconds. Whenever a change in status is detected, the altered status is recorded as a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'change line data set'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' in a continuously circulating memory which can store 40 such data sets. At periodic intervals a central unit

Claims

1. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a circulating memory within each data handling system including means for repeatedly presenting the memory contents as a memory output signal;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for presenting data extracted from the memory output signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

2. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the memory contains a marker bit, and further including memory data gates disposed in the memory circulation path for reversing the sign of this marker bit each time the memory data fully circulates.

3. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 1 wherein counting means count the flow of data bits through the memory and actuate the message generator at time intervals spaced apart by the time it takes a fixed number of bits to flow through the memory whereby the data bits comprising the memory output signal are sampled periodically by the message generating means at a sampling rate that is substantially slower than the memory output signal bit presentation rate, said sampling rate being chosen so that the number representing the memory bit capacity has no common primes with the ratio of the memory output signal bit presentation rate to the sampling rate.

4. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

storage means within each data handling system for preparing data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

a pushdown, recirculating memory within each data handling system which can store a fixed number of data sets presented by the storage means, and wherein all new data sets presented after the memory is full replace the oldest data sets previously placed in the memory;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for converting the memory contents into a signal and for presenting the signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

5. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a memory within each data handling system;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables whenever at least one of the digital variables is altered;

digital variable monitoring means connected to the presentation means for actuating the storage means whenever at least one of the digital variables is altered;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for converting the memory contents into a signal and for presenting the signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

6. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 5 to which is added timing means for measuring the time which elapses between actuations of the storage means caused by alteration of the digital variables and wherein each data set stored within the memory includes both the digital variables themselves and also a number obtained from the timing means and representing the length of time which elapsed before the next record was recorded.

7. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 5 to which is added timing means for measuring the time which elapses between successive actuations of the storage means caused by alteration of the digital variables and wherein, in addition to the records of the digital variables, a record of the time is transferred from the timing means to the memory each time the storage means are actuated from which record of the time the beginning and end of each time interval during which the digital variables were in the states indicated by the records within the memory can be deduced.

8. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a memory within each data handling system;

timing means for measuring the length of time during which the digital variables remain unchanged;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets each containing a record of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables and a number representing the length of time during which the digital variables remained unchanged;

digital variable monitoring means connected to the presentation means for actuating the storage means whenever there is a change in the digital variables presented by the presentation means;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for converting the memory contents into a signal and for presenting the signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

9. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the number portion of each data set is initially zero when the data set first reaches the memory, and further including arithmetic means connecting to the memory for incrementing the number portion of each new data set periodically until another data set is fed into the memory, whereby the number within the number portion of each data set represents the length of time during which the digital variables remained in the state indicated by the record of the digital variables within the same data set.

10. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the memory within each data handling system is a circulating memory which repeAtedly presents the memory contents as a memory output signal, further including memory data gates disposed in the memory circulation path for reversing the sign of the memory data bits in response to a carry signal, and wherein the arithmetic means initiates said carry signal periodically as the number portion of the data set most recently presented to the memory flows through the memory data gates and terminates the carry signal after the least significant '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'zero'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' bit within the number portion is inverted by the memory data gates.

11. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a memory within each data handling system;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

comparison means for periodically comparing the digital variables with the record of the digital variables contained within the data set most recently placed into the memory, said comparison means actuating the storage means whenever the digital variables disagree with the record contained within the data set most recently placed into the memory;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for converting the memory contents into a signal and for presenting the signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

12. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 11 wherein the memory within each data handling system is a circulating memory which repeatedly presents the memory contents as a memory output signal, wherein the comparison means includes a comparison gate into which the memory output signal is fed, and further including serial data presentation means for presenting the digital variables serially to the comparison gate simultaneously with the appearance of the data set most recently placed into the memory within the memory output signal.

13. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the serial data presentation means is a data register having a parallel data input connected to the cluster of digital variables and having a serial data output.

14. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the memory includes memory data gates disposed in the memory circulation path, wherein the serial data presentation means also presents the digital variables serially to the memory data gates, and wherein the comparison means causes the memory data gates to feed the digital variables into the memory as part of a data set which replaces the oldest data set in the memory whenever the digital variables disagree with the record contained within the data set most recently placed into the memory.

15. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 14 wherein the serial data presentation means is a data register having a parallel data input connected to the cluster of digital variables and having a serial data output.

16. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to A geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a serial circulating memory within each data handling system;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

message generating means within each data handling system for continuously presenting the memory contents as a message signal;

a telephone direct dialing network communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link including ringing signal responsive means and switching means actuated by said ringing signal responsive means to connect the signal generated by the message generating means to the direct distance dialing network in response to receipt of a ringing signal from the communications link;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

17. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a circulating memory within each data handling system repeatedly presenting the memory contents as a memory output signal;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for presenting the output signal to the transmitting unit comprising tone signals having first and second frequencies and gating means controlled by the memory output signal for presenting one or the other of the tone signals to the transmitting unit in accordance with whether the memory output signal represents a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'zero'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' or a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'one'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' data bit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer; and

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link.

18. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the gating means includes a source of timing signals, a flip-flop, a data input to the flip-flop connected to the memory output signal, a toggle input to the flip-flop connected to the source of timing signals, an output from the flip-flop, and gates controlled by the flip-flop output connecting the tone signals to the transmitting unit, whereby the bits which flow from the memory are sampled at a rate determined by the frequency of the source of timing signals.

19. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a serial, circulating memory within each data handling system repeatedly presenting the memory contents as a memory output signal;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of Digital variables;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

meassage generating means within each data handling system for presenting the memory output signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting to the communications link for receiving signals from the communications link;

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link; and

data interface unit means connecting the receiving unit to the digital computer, said data interface unit means accepting data at a low speed from the receiving unit, storing the data, and then presenting the data at high speed to the digital computer.

20. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a memory within each data handling system;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for continuously converting the memory contents into a continuous signal comprising successive memory data transmissions and for presenting the continuous signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for receiving signals from the communications link;

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link; and

data interface unit means connecting the receiving unit to the digital computer, said data interface unit means performing a bitwise comparison of successive data transmissions to insure that no transmission errors have occurred and presenting data to the digital computer only after two transmissions have been received which are identical.

21. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 20 wherein a marker bit accompanies each transmission and is reversed in sign between successive transmissions, and wherein the data interface unit means includes means for indicating to the digital computer which bit is the marker bit.

22. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 20 wherein the data interface unit means comprises:

a serial memory with the capacity to store an entire transmission, said memory having an input into which data from the receiving unit is fed, and having an output;

a counter arranged to count the data bits that flow into the serial memory;

a comparator having two inputs, one connected to the serial memory output and the other receiving data from the receiving unit, and having an output connected to said counter for resetting said counter whenever the two inputs do not match; and

data presentation means responsive to said counter reaching a predetermined count for presenting the contents of the memory to the digital computer.

23. A data storage and transmission system in accordance with claim 22 wherein the data presentation means comprises a bistable circuit which changes its state when the counter reaches the predetermined count, said bistable circuit generating a ready signal which initiates an interrupt in the digital computer;

and recirculation gates connecting the memory output to the memory input and enabled by the ready signal.

24. A data storage and transmission system in accOrdance with claim 23 wherein the message generating means includes means for generating a marker signal that accompanies each transmission and that is reversed in sign between successive transmissions, wherein the counter is advanced synchronously with the recirculation of data through the memory, wherein the counter resets with each complete circulation of the data, and wherein the counter generates a signal when the count is reached at which count the marker signal flows from the serial memory.

25. A data storage and transmission system for continuously monitoring a plurality of remotely located digital variables presented by digital variable presentation means, said system comprising:

a plurality of remotely located data handling systems each connected to a geographically proximate cluster of the remotely located digital variable presentation means;

a memory within each data handling system;

storage means within each data handling system for storing within the memory data sets containing records of the fluctuations in the associated cluster of digital variables;

a communications link;

a transmitting unit connecting each data handling system to the communications link;

message generating means within each data handling system for converting the memory contents into a signal and for presenting the signal to the transmitting unit;

a centrally located computer;

a receiving unit connecting the computer to the communications link for transferring signals from the communications link to the computer;

means controlled by the computer for establishing a connection between the receiving unit and any of the transmitting units over the communications link;

a power supply for each data handling system;

batteries for replacing each power supply in case of power failure;

means within each data handling system responsive to a failure of power for transferring electrical power from the corresponding battery to the corresponding data handling system;

battery charging means within said power supply for normally maintaining a full charge on said batteries; and

power interrupt detector means connected to the power supply and responsive to a power failure for generating a power off tone whenever a power failure is in progress, said power off tone being fed directly to the transmitting unit.