Program schedule displaying system

• US 4,199,781 A
• Filed: 05/06/1976
• Issued: 04/22/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Granger J. Weldon
• Original Assignee: Dial-A-Channel Incorporated
• Inventors: Doumit, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Richard
• Application Number:
  US05/683,954
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 358/83, 358/93, 358/185, 358/130, 358/214
• US Class Current: 348/96
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Program schedule information recorded on film is converted into video signals by two video record players for transmission with audio signals through a selected channel to cable television subscribers. The film is incrementally advanced in reverse directions for alternate display of different information recorded on separate frames of the film under control of a sequence controller operating through relays to effect synchronized operation of the video and audio tape players.

Claims

1. For use in a television distribution zone wherein a television receiver may be selectively tuned to a plurality of channels over which television programs are transmitted, a system for displaying program schedules comprising a transmitter transmitting over one of said channels, a video record player device having a transport mechanism, optical record means associated with said player device for storing program schedule displays, means for transmitting composite video signals corresponding to said schedule displays to the transmitter from the player device, sequence control means connected to the transport mechanism for synchronized movement of the optical record means in opposite directions to cyclically transmit said composite video signals, and timer means connected to the sequence control means for periodically effecting a change in the composite video signals transmitted, whereby timely program schedule information transmitted over said one of the channels may be viewed on said television receiver.

2. For use in a television distribution zone wherein a television receiver may be selectively tuned to a plurality of channels over which television programs are transmitted, a system for displaying program schedules, comprising a transmitter transmitting over one of said channels, video signal player means connected to the transmitter for feeding video signals thereto, optical record means associated with said video signal player means for storing program schedule displays, means for transmitting composite video signals corresponding to said schedule displays information to the transmitter from the video player means, sequence control means connected to the player means for synchronized movement of the optical record means, timer means connected to the sequence control means for periodically effecting a change in the composite video signals transmitted to the transmitter whereby timely program schedule information may be viewed on said television receiver, said optical record means including a program schedule film having frames thereon from which said program schedule displays are derived, and drive control means connected to said player means for displaying the film one frame at a time in response to signals from the sequence control means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the sequence control means includes means for intermittently effecting displacement of the film in opposite directions during a program period of predetermined duration and alternate display of at least two program schedules, sensor means for detecting registration of the film frames at operative positions at which said video signals are generated, and means connecting the sensor means to the sequence control means for stopping displacement of the film in response to registration of the film frames at said operative positions.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the optical record means includes additional film from which advertising material is transmitted between said alternate transmission of the program schedule displays.

5. The combination of claim 4 including audio player means for generating an audio message signal during transmission of video signals corresponding to said advertising material.

6. The combination of claim 5 including means connected by the timer means to the sequence control means for uni-directionally advancing the program schedule film upon completion of the program period.

7. The combination of claim 6 including audio player means connected to the sequence control means for generating an audio message signal during transmission of the advertising displays.

8. In combination with a video record player having a film transport mechanism through which film may be selectively displaced to frame alignment positions at which video signals are produced by a scanner system operated in synchronized relation to movement of the film, sequence control means for regulating movement of the film including drive control means connected to the transport mechanism for effecting displacement of the film alternately in opposite directions to said frame alignment positions, and timer means connected to the transport mechanism for periodically effecting unidirectional advancement of the film in one direction from one of said frame alignment positions, whereby the video signals produced correspond to alternate display of information on two adjacent film frames periodically changed to update the information.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said video record player includes at least two operating channels through which the video signals are reproduced from different frames on the film, and means connected to the sequence control means for switching channels while said film is stationary at each of said frame alignment positions.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said transport mechanism includes a drive motor for advancing the film in said one direction and a self-locking gear operatively connected to the drive control means.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said drive control means includes a reversing motor.

12. A system for distributing information, comprising a transmitter, a record medium on which information is stored, a scanning device having a transport mechanism carrying said record medium, means for transmitting to the transmitter signals from the scanning device derived by scanning of the information stored on the record medium, sequence control means connected to the transport mechanism for movement of the record medium in opposite directions to repeat the signals transmitted, and timer means connected to the sequence control means for periodically effecting a change in the signals transmitted whereby timely information is distribured by the transmitter.