Interrogated transponder system

• US 4,079,414 A
• Filed: 08/31/1973
• Issued: 03/14/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skiatron Electronics & Television Corporation
• Original Assignee: Skiatron Electronics & Television Corporation
• Inventors: Sullivan, Herbert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, S. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/393,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 358/84, 325/308, 325/31, 340/152 T, 340/408
• US Class Current: 725/114
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/00 Alarm systems in which substations are interrogated in succession by a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/003 replying the identity and the state of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/21 Billing for the use of 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 60/96 CATV systems for accessing the Internet H04H60/86
• 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/12 using combinations of frequencies

Abstract

Method for selectively interrogating decoding devices which are located at remote stations. In one embodiment, a number of transponders which make up a final group within a larger group of transponders, all attached to a common line running from a central station, are selected and simultaneously caused to retransmit modified interrogation signals in accordance with certain informational characteristics and the identity of each transponder retransmitting. The final group of transponders, which include respective decoding devices, chosen to be interrogated is selected by first sending a number n of tones of a larger group of tones m down a branch line to partially activate some of the decoding devices. These tones are followed by a smaller number of tones k chosen from the group n to which only the decoding devices in the final group respond. The system is particularly designed for use in a subscriber television network and specific circuitry for accomplishing the logical and electrical functions required are described.

Claims

1. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising:

selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones,

and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station,

and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.

2. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes logic circuitry which aides in determining information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising

selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones,

and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its stored information on its return frequencies to the central station,

and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.

3. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a pluality of input sources, and means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising

selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones,

and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n-k tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its information on its return frequencies to the central station,

and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said subgroup.

4. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in reponse to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising

selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones,

and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the remaining n tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station,

and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.

5. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected address tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising

selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders k address tones from an available number of n tones,

and then transmitting to all of said transponders interrogation tones taken from the n tones to cause each of the transponders of said selected subgroup to transmit its return frequencies to the central station,

an identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.

6. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes means for returning information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising:

selecting a subgroup of transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones,

then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup, to cause the interrogated transponders to transmit their return frequencies to the central station,

and identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the step of then transmitting said second set of tones includes transmitting at least one tone of said set of k address tones for at least aiding in maintaining said selected subgroup of transponders selected during said interrogating thereof and return of frequencies therefrom.

8. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder contains intelligence information and transponder identifying infomation to be set to a central station, the intelligence information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for sending said intelligence and transponder information to a central station by means of a return signal including preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising

selecting a subgroup of said transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones,

then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup as to their respective intelligence information, to transmit their return frequencies with their intelligence information to the central station,

identifying the individual transponders withn said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said desired subgroup, and

identifying and correlating the intelligence information with the idenfified transponders.

9. A method as in claim 8 including before the said selecting of said subgroup the step of selecting a major group of said transponders, including said subgroup, by transmitting to all of said transponders each of said n tones selected from a larger available number of m tones.

10. A method of selectively interrogating the individual transponders of a group of transponders wherein each transponder includes logic circuitry for aiding in determining information to be returned to a central station, the information being provided by a selected one of a plurality of input sources, and means for sending information to a central station by means of preselected return frequencies and wherein predetermined subgroups of transponders are adapted to be selectively actuated in response to the receipt of preselected tones received in a preselected sequence, comprising

selecting a subgroup of said transponders by transmitting to all of said transponders a set of k address tones from an available number of n tones,

then transmitting to all of said transponders a second set of tones, including I interrogating tones taken from the remaining n-k tones for interrogating each of the transponders of said selected subgroup, to cause the interrogated transponders to transmit their information on their return frequencies to the central station,

identifying the individual transponders within said desired subgroup by the frequencies of the return signals from the transponders within said subgroup, and

identifying and correlating the transmitted information with the identified transponders.