ELECTRONIC BILATERAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR COMMERCIAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY VIDEO AND DIGITAL SIGNALING

• US 3,833,757 A
• Filed: 04/10/1972
• Issued: 09/03/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Kirk Jr, Michael J. Paolini
• Original Assignee: Donald Kirk Jr, Michael J. Paolini
• Inventors: Kirk, Donald Jr., Paolini, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bookbinder, Marc E.
• Application Number:
  US05/242,721
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 178/5.6,DIG.1,DIG.13,5.1R 179/37,15A 340/313,184 325/308,309,53 343/178,204
• US Class Current: 725/144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/17372 the upstream transmission being initiated or timed by a signal from upstream of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A bilateral cable communications system - as for a lodging facility, distributes commercial and supplementary video programs from common equipment to spaced subscriber stations located, for example, in each hotel-motel room. Heterodyne converter apparatus is included at each station for viewing the supplementary programing on a standard television receiver. Time division multiplexed, full duplex digital communications are also effected via the distribution cable for providing signaling between the common equipment and the subscriber locations. The digital signaling implements administrative and supervisory control for supplementary video reception and monitoring - as for extra fee accounting purposes, and also general lodging service tasks.

Claims

1. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said common means further comprises means for generating a predetermined distinctive synchronizing code pattern and for impressing said pattern on said signal propagating means, each of said station means comprising means for recognizing said distinctive synchronizing pattern generated by said common means.

3. A combination as in claim 2 wherein said synchronizing code pattern generating means in said common means comprise counter means, and additional logic means connected to the outputs of said counter means for providing output signals for particular states of said counter means.

4. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said comMon means on said common signal propagating means, wherein said common means further includes distinctive synchronizing pattern generating means including counter means, and additional logic means for enabling said counter means for a predetermined number of consecutive count intervals.

5. A combination as in claim 4 wherein each of said plural station means includes a counter which is subdivided into plural stage groups each having a common reset port, and wherein said distinctive synchronizing code pattern recognizing means in said station means includes logic means having inputs connected to one group of said counter stages, and an output connected to one of said counter group reset ports.

6. A combination as in claim 5 further comprises flip-flop means selectively enabled by said synchronizing pattern recognition logic means, said flip-flop output selectively signaling the reset port of the other counter stage group.

7. A combination as in claim 2, wherein said common and station timing means each comprise a binary counter connected to the respective clock means, and wherein said station means includes means responsive to the reception of said distinct synchronizing pattern communicated via said signal propagating means for resetting said counter included at said station means.

8. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said video signal supplying means included in said common means comprises means for supplying commercial video programs, and supplementary programs exhibiting a frequency spectrum not otherwise occupied by said commercial programming.

9. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said common means further comprises frequency shift keyed modulator means for modulating said digital wave train supplied by said time division multiplexing means and wherein each of said plural station means includes frequency shift keyed detector means.

10. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said message impressing means of said station means includes reporting means for signaling that said station means is selecting said at least one video signal for viewing.

11. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said message responsive means in said station means is responsive to a predetermined code pattern of said message from said common means.

12. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and reCeive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means, wherein said digital wave train supplying means in said common means comprises plural time division multiplexing circuits sequentially enabled by said common timing means, plural digital input signal means each for a different one of said station means connected to each of said time division multiplexing circuits, and disjunctive logic means connecting the output of said time division multiplexing circuits to said signal propagating means.

13. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means, wherein said digital wave train receiving means included in said common means comprises plural time division multiplexing circuits sequentially enabled by said common timing means, plural indicating means each associated with a different one of said station means connected to plural outputs of each of said time division multiplexing circuits, and means connecting said common signal propagating means with a signal input in each of said time division multiplexing circuit means.

14. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for seleCtively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means, wherein said digital message impressing means included in each of said station means comprises a first oscillation source, and means for selectively amplitude modulating the oscillation produced by the said first source thereof in accordance with said digital message, and wherein said message receiving means in said common means includes amplitude modulation detector means.

15. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means, further comprising a gated oscillation source, means for gating said oscillation source in accordance with said digital message, wherein said amplitude modulating means selectively modulates a carrier with the output of said gated oscillation source.

16. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connected to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means, wherein said station means includes video signal inhibiting means, means for enabling said signal inhibiting means in accordance with the information content of the message received by said station means from said common means, and means responsive to said inhibiting means for disabling said converter means.

17. A combination as in claim 16 wherein said station means converter means comprises heterodyne means including a local oscillator associated with said at least one video signal, and wherein said inhibiting means comprises bistable means for selectively disabling said local oscillator.

18. In combination in a bilateral communication system for distributing video information to standard television receivers, signal propagating means;

plural station means and common means connected to said signal propagating means;

said common means including means for supplying at least one video signal to said signal propagating means in a form unreceivable by a standard television receiver, time division multiplexing means for supplying to said signal propagating means during transmission mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each destined for a different one of said station means, additional time division multiplexing means for selectively receiving from said signal propagating means during receive mode intervals a digital wave train comprising serial binary messages each originating at a different one of said station means, bit timing supply means, and common timing means coupled to said bit timing supply means connected to said time division multiplexing means and said additional time division multiplexing means for providing signals identifying the time periods during said transmission mode and receive mode intervals when a particular one of said plural station means is then operatively connecteD to said common means via said signal propagating means;

each of said plural station means including converter means for converting a video signal to a form which can be displayed by a television receiver, station timing means responsive to the output of said bit timing supply means for synchronizing said station means with said common timing means, decoder means connected to said station timing means to provide a signal to indicate the interval during said transmission and receive mode intervals when said station means is connected to said common means via said signal propagating means, means enabled by said decoder means for receiving a message for said station means from said common means, and means enabled by said decoder means for impressing a digital message for said common means on said common signal propagating means, wherein said station timing means includes coincidence logic means including plural switch means for imparting a unique identification to said station means.