Remote level adjustment system for use in a multi-terminal communications system
First Claim
1. A remote signal level adjustment system for use in a multi-terminal communications system for bi-directional transmission of signals over a communications network, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of remote terminal means, adapted to transmit and receive signals over said communications network, for providing, in response to a polling signal, data regarding transactions at respective remote locations and transmitting signals carrying said data, each said remote terminal means including means for transmitting a reply signal in response to an interrogation signal and means for adjusting the transmission output signal level of said terminal in response to an adjustment signal; and
(b) master terminal means adapted to transmit and receive signals over said communications network, said master terminal means having;
(i) polling means for transmitting a polling signal to said remote terminal means;
(ii) means for interrupting said polling signal and transmitting an interrogation signal to a selected remote terminal means;
(iii) means for, while said polling signal has been resumed, measuring the level of a reply signal provided by said selected remote terminal means in response to said interrogation signal and determining, according to a predetermined criterion the need to make an adjustment of the transmission output signal level of said selected remote terminal means; and
(iv) means for thereafter interrupting the polling signal, if desirable based upon said determination, and transmitting an adjustment signal for causing said selected remote terminal means to adjust its transmission output signal level according to a predetermined protocol.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote level adjustment system for use in a multi-terminal communications system wherein a plurality of remote terminals are connected to a master terminal by a distribution network for bi-directional transmission of signals. The remote terminals are adapted to transmit and receive signals on the network and respond to a polling signal by transmitting signals regarding transactions at respective sites. Each remote terminal includes circuitry for responding to level-setting signals by transmitting reply signals, and variable attenuation circuitry for adjusting, in response to a level-setting adjustment signal, the power level of the signals it transmits. The master terminal is adapted to transmit and receive signals on the network and includes program and circuit means for transmitting a polling signal. The master terminal further includes program and circuit means for transmitting level-setting signals, for measuring the power level of reply signals from selected remote terminals and deciding whether to adjust the level, and for transmitting a level-setting adjustment signal, if necessary, to command the selected remote terminal to adjust the setting of its variable attenuation circuitry in accordance with a level-setting protocol.
252 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A remote signal level adjustment system for use in a multi-terminal communications system for bi-directional transmission of signals over a communications network, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of remote terminal means, adapted to transmit and receive signals over said communications network, for providing, in response to a polling signal, data regarding transactions at respective remote locations and transmitting signals carrying said data, each said remote terminal means including means for transmitting a reply signal in response to an interrogation signal and means for adjusting the transmission output signal level of said terminal in response to an adjustment signal; and (b) master terminal means adapted to transmit and receive signals over said communications network, said master terminal means having; (i) polling means for transmitting a polling signal to said remote terminal means; (ii) means for interrupting said polling signal and transmitting an interrogation signal to a selected remote terminal means; (iii) means for, while said polling signal has been resumed, measuring the level of a reply signal provided by said selected remote terminal means in response to said interrogation signal and determining, according to a predetermined criterion the need to make an adjustment of the transmission output signal level of said selected remote terminal means; and (iv) means for thereafter interrupting the polling signal, if desirable based upon said determination, and transmitting an adjustment signal for causing said selected remote terminal means to adjust its transmission output signal level according to a predetermined protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A remote level adjustment system for use in a communications system for bi-directional transmission of signals over a communications network, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of remote terminal means adapted to transmit and receive signals over said communications network, for providing data regarding transactions at associated remote locations and transmitting signals carrying said data, each said remote terminal means including means for transmitting a reply signal in response to an interrogation signal and means for adjusting the level of its respective transmission output signal by an incremental amount in response to an adjustment signal; and (b) master terminal means, adapted to transmit and receive signals over said communications network, for receiving data from said remote terminal means, said master terminal means including; (i) means for transmitting an interrogation signal to a selected remote terminal means; (ii) means for measuring the level of a reply signal transmitted by said selected remote terminal means in response to said interrogation signal to determine whether the level of said reply signal is within a predetermined range; and (iii) means for transmitting an adjustment signal, if the level of said reply is not within said predetermined range, for causing said selected remote terminal means to adjust its transmission output signal level by an incremental amount according to a predetermined protocol. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for remote level adjustment in a communications system in which a plurality of remote terminals are connected to a master terminal by a communications network for bi-directional transmission of signals between said master terminal and said remote terminals, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a polling signal from said master terminal for causing said remote terminals to transmit output signals carrying data regarding transactions at respective remote locations; (b) interrupting said polling signal and transmitting an interrogation signal from said master terminal for causing a selected remote terminal to transmit a reply signal; (c) resuming said polling signal while measuring at said master terminal the level of said reply signal transmitted by said selected terminal; and (d) temporarily interrupting said polling signal, if desirable based on said measurement, to transmit an adjustment signal from said master terminal for causing said selected remote terminal to adjust its output signal level according to a predetermined protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification