Premium interactive communication system
First Claim
1. In a subscriber television system having a central unit and a plurality of subscriber units interconnected by at least one tree-organized wideband communication link capable of simultaneously carrying a plurality of communication channels, certain channels of which carry information including a plurality of video signals from the central unit to subscriber units and other channels of which carry information from subscriber units to the central unit, the improvement comprising:
- means at the central unit for providing reference synchronizing signals;
means at the central unit for transmitting pulses over at least one of the certain channels which pulses are provided a reference by the synchronizing signals;
means at the central unit for periodically transmitting a reset signal;
means at each subscriber unit for counting the transmitted pulses;
means at each subscriber unit and responsive to a received reset signal for returning the corresponding counting means to an initial count;
means at each subscribing unit for providing a subscriber unit enabling signal in response to a predetermined count by the counting means, the predetermined count being different for different subscriber units; and
means at the central unit for transmitting a plurality of video signals, at least one said video signal being synchronized to the reference synchronizing signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable television and communication system is disclosed which is suitable for community antenna television (CATV) closed circuit television (CCTV) and other types of signal distribution systems with service function applications such as for use in hotel, motel, apartment complexes, and the like. The system has the capability of distribution and subscriber reception of unencoded and encoded or limited access video and audio programs with simultaneous two way digital data communication. The subscriber units are interconnected by a tree-organized wideband communication link such as co-axial cable system with a network central unit. Subscriber unit identification control and data exchange is accomplished by the use of a high speed time-slot organized format with each subscriber being assigned a predetermined unique television synchronization related time-slot. The central unit utilizes a small digital computer which functions to provide network supervision and management of subscriber requests, accounting, billing and other processing such as viewing analysis. The system utilizes a modular configuration which allows for a low cost and simple initial installation capable of being later expanded to a more sophisticated version.
217 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a subscriber television system having a central unit and a plurality of subscriber units interconnected by at least one tree-organized wideband communication link capable of simultaneously carrying a plurality of communication channels, certain channels of which carry information including a plurality of video signals from the central unit to subscriber units and other channels of which carry information from subscriber units to the central unit, the improvement comprising:
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means at the central unit for providing reference synchronizing signals; means at the central unit for transmitting pulses over at least one of the certain channels which pulses are provided a reference by the synchronizing signals; means at the central unit for periodically transmitting a reset signal; means at each subscriber unit for counting the transmitted pulses; means at each subscriber unit and responsive to a received reset signal for returning the corresponding counting means to an initial count; means at each subscribing unit for providing a subscriber unit enabling signal in response to a predetermined count by the counting means, the predetermined count being different for different subscriber units; and means at the central unit for transmitting a plurality of video signals, at least one said video signal being synchronized to the reference synchronizing signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a subscriber television system having a central unit and a plurality of subscriber units interconnected by a tree-organized wideband communication link capable of simultaneously providing a plurality of communication channels, certain channels of which carry information including a plurality of video signals from the central unit to subscriber units to the central unit, the improvement comprising:
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means at the central unit for providing reference synchronizing signals; means at the central unit for transmitting pulses over at least one of the said certain channels which pulses are clocked by the synchronizing signals; means at the central unit for periodically transmitting a reset signal; means at each subscriber unit responsive to the transmitted pulses and to said periodic reset signals for providing a subscriber unit enabling signal, the last mentioned means including timing means for insuring that only one subscriber unit enabling signal occurs at any one time; and means at the central unit for transmitting a plurality of video signals at least one of which is synchronized with the reference synchronizing signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification