Video switch exchange with blackout time control

• US 5,065,151 A
• Filed: 10/28/1988
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Technical Telephone Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Technical Telephone Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sandbrand, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/264,451
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/309.6, 340/825.03, 340/825.22, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 340/825.79, 340/825.83, 340/717, 364/143, 364/144, 364/145, 358/181, 358/185, 358/220, 358/86, 379/53, 379/54, 379/242
• US Class Current: 348/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/24 Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation H04N21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0001 using optical switching

Abstract

An apparatus and method for switching video signals from input lines to output lines. A control device selectively sets a blackout start time and a blackout stop time. A first comparator compares the blackout start time with actual time and a second comparator compares the blackout stop time with actual time. A switch is provided for connecting the input lines to output lines and for disconnecting the input lines from the output lines. The switch is responsive to the first comparator to disconnect all input lines from all output lines when the actual time equals the blackout start time. The switch is also responsive to the second comparator to reconnect the input lines to the output lines when the actual time equals the blackout stop time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for switching video signals from input lines to output lines, comprising:

control means for selectively setting a blackout start time and for selectively setting a blackout stop time;

first comparing means for comparing the blackout start time with actual time;

second comparing means for comparing the blackout stop time with actual time; and

switching means for connecting the input lines to the output lines and for disconnecting the input lines from the output lines, said switching means being responsive to said first comparing means to disconnect all input lines from all output lines when the actual time equals the blackout start time, said switching means being responsive to said second comparing means to reconnect the input lines to the output lines when the actual time equals the blackout stop time.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for determining which input lines were connected to which output lines prior to disconnection and means for storing and recalling connection information, wherein said switching means is responsive to said storage and recall means to restore prior connections when the actual time equals the blackout stop time.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a real-time clock, said real-time clock is applying the actual time to said first and second comparing means.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for selectively disconnecting all input lines from all output lines and means for selectively restoring the connections between the input lines and the output lines.

5. A method for switching video signals from input lines to output lines, comprising the steps of:

selectively setting a blackout start time;

selectively setting a blackout stop time;

comparing the blackout start time with actual time;

disconnecting the input lines from the output lines when the actual time equals the blackout start time;

comparing the blackout stop time with actual time; and

reconnecting the input lines to the output lines when the actual time equals the blackout stop time.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the steps of determining which input lines were connected to which output lines prior to disconnection, storing connection information, and recalling connection information.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the steps of selectively disconnecting all input lines from all output lines and selectively restoring the connections between the input lines and the output lines.