Communications apparatus for use with cable television systems

• US 4,575,750 A
• Filed: 05/31/1984
• Issued: 03/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hollyanne Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hollyanne Corporation
• Inventors: Callahan, Marty
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/615,986
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 358/86, 455/3, 455/4, 179/2 A, 179/5 R, 179/5 P
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A cable television system communications apparatus comprising a transmission unit for originating various messages and message class identification signals and a receiver unit for receiving such signals and for rendering audible such messages as are authorized for that particular receiver unit.

Claims

1. A communications apparatus for use with a cable television system, the apparatus comprising:

(a) transmission means for originating a message and transmitting said message through at least a portion of said cable television system, said transmission means including;

(i) audio signal source means for providing at least one audio signal message to serve as the originated message wherein said audio signal message comprises at least one recorded message;

(ii) modulator means for receiving said audio signal message and for converting said audio signal message into a radio frequency signal that may be broadcast through said cable television system without interferring with any signals ordinarily broadcast therethrough;

(iii) recorded message designation means for generating a code signal that designates a particular recorded message that is to be transmitted by said transmission means through said cable television systems; and

(iv) message signal decode means for receiving said coded signal from said recorded message designation means to at least partially decode said coded signal and for generating an enable signal in response thereto;

wherein said audio signal source means is responsive to said message signal decode means such that said enable signal from said message signal decode means will cause said audio signal source means to provide a particular recorded message as designated by said recorded message designation means; and

(b) receiver means for receiving said radio frequency signal and for rendering said audio signal message audible, said receiver means including;

(i) demodulation means for receiving said radio frequency signal and for converting said radio frequency signal into an audio frequency signal; and

(ii) transducer means for rendering said audio frequency signal audible without use of any transducer elements that are otherwise ordinarily connected to said cable television system, such as television speakers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver means includes message class decode means for receiving said audio freqency signal and for decoding at least a portion of said audio frequency signal and for selectively generating an enabling signal in response thereto to enable said transducer means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receiver means includes:

(A) switch means operably responsive to said message class decode means for rendering said audio frequency signal audible in response to appropriate signals from said message class decode means; and

(B) override switch means such that said message class decode means can be selectively overridden to allow any message transmitted by said transmission means to be rendered audible by said receiver means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transmission means includes timer means for disabling said transmission of a recorded message upon the expiration of a preselected time period.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said transmission means further includes pilot signal decoder means for receiving said coded signal from said recorded message designation means and for at least partially decoding said signal to selectively activate said timer means in response thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transmission means further includes live message source means for selectively allowing a live broadcast to be transmitted through said transmission means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

(A) said transmission means includes timer means for disabling said transmission of a recorded message upon the expiration of a preselected time period; and

(B) live message by-pass means for allowing a live broadcast to be transmitted from said transmission unit without activating said timer means.