Broadcast synchronization and supervision system
First Claim
1. A broadcast system for enabling independent communication with a plurality of remote locations comprisingbroadcast station transmitter means for broadcasting normal program materialcentral control means at a central location for generating digital address and control signalsmeans coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station transmitter means for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program materiala plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver having a preassigned address and including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, andenabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said address detecting means therein to enable the establishment of an independent bidirectional communication link between said remote location and said central location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed which employs existing broadcast stations to transmit synchronizing and supervisory signals for use by telephone communication devices at remote locations for timing purposes and for coordinating their activities with activities at other locations. The system comprises a broadcast transmitter modified to transmit phase (or frequency) modulated digital signals, which digital signals are synchronized to the carrier of the broadcast station. The broadcast station includes equipment to both periodically transmit synchronizing and supervising signals to coordinate activity of remote devices, and to transmit messages to them. The messages are generated at a central computer location and conveyed to the broadcast station by a dedicated phone line, a microwave link, or other known methods. At remote locations a TELRAD modem includes a radio receiver to detect the broadcast signals which synchronize and supervise them and associated customer apparatus. A central control computer generates the messages. Communications to and from remote monitoring locations is also accomplished. Another important object is to provide broadcast transmissions from more than one broadcast station by providing a receiver at secondary broadcast stations tuned to the primary master transmitter, which receiver detects the transmissions of the master transmitter, modulates the repeater transmitter in the prescribed manner and retransmits the signal to extend the service area.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A broadcast system for enabling independent communication with a plurality of remote locations comprising
broadcast station transmitter means for broadcasting normal program material central control means at a central location for generating digital address and control signals means coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station transmitter means for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program material a plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver having a preassigned address and including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, and enabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said address detecting means therein to enable the establishment of an independent bidirectional communication link between said remote location and said central location.
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7. A broadcast system for enabling independent communication with a plurality of remote locations comprising
broadcast station transmitter means for broadcasting normal program material central control means for generating digital address and control signals means coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program material a plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, each of said remote receivers each also including telephone line ring detect and automatic telephone answer means for sensing the presence of a ring signal on a telephone line and providing an off hook signal in response thereto to terminate the ring signal and establish the phone communication link, and wherein said enabling means is a means for enabling the operation of said telephone line ring detect and automatic telephone answer means, whereby said telephone line ring detect and automatic answer means will be operative only when enabled by said central control means, and enabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said address detecting means therein to enable the establishment of an independent communication link with said remote location.
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9. A broadcast system for enabling independent communication with a plurality of remote locations comprising
broadcast station transmitter means for broadcasting normal program material central control means for generating digital address and control signals means coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program material a plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, each of said receivers also including automatic dialing means, whereby each of said remote receivers, when enabled, may initiate the establishment of the independent communication link, and enabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said address detecting means therein to enable the establishment of a telephone communication link with said remote location.
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16. A broadcast system for enabling independent communication with a plurality of remote locations comprising
broadcast station transmitter means for broadcasting normal program material central control means for generating digital address and control signals means coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program material a plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, each of said remote receivers also including decoding means for receiving digital data over a phone line and decoding said data for use at the remote location, and enabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said address detecting means therein to enable the establishment of a telephone communication link with said remote location.
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26. A broadcast system for enabling communication with a plurality of remote locations comprising
broadcast station transmitter means for boradcasting normal program material central control means at a central location for generating digital address and control signals means coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station transmitter for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program material a plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver having a preassigned address and including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, and enabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said adress detecting means each of said remote receivers being coupled to a telephone line and including telephone line ring detect and automatic telephone answer means for sensing the presence of a ring signal on the telephone line and providing an off hook signal in response there to terminate the ring signal and establish a telephone line communication link between said central location and the respective said remote location, and wherein said enabling means is a means for enabling the operation of said telephone line ring detect and automatic telephone answer means, whereby said telephone line ring detect and automatic answer means will be operative only when enabled by said central control means.
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50. A broadcast system for enabling independent communication with a plurality of remote locations comprising
broadcast station transmitter means for broadcasting normal program material central control means at a central location for generating digital address and control signals means coupled to said central control means and said broadcast station transmitter for causing the broadcasting of said digital address and control signals with said normal program material in a manner so as to be substantially noninterfering with the reception of the normal program material a plurality of remote receivers for receiving and detecting said digital address and control signals broadcast by said broadcast station transmitter, each said receiver having a preassigned address and including address detection means for determining the coincidence between a broadcast address and the preassigned address of the respective receiver, and enabling means associated with each of said receivers and responsive to said address detecting means therein to enable the establishment of a telephone line communication link between said central location and its respective said remote location, each of said receivers including automatic dialing means, whereby each of said remote receivers may initiate the establishment of the telephone line communication link when enabled by said enabling means.
Specification