Communications system
First Claim
1. A communications system having a transmitter, comprising a plurality of hierarchically addressable receivers adaptable to receive and process transmissions from the transmitter, which transmissions include an indexed address list in which the index corresponds to a characteristic of at least one receiver, for permitting each receiver to identify its addresses, instructions, and data requirements.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system having centralized management and multiply-hierarchical addressing schemes is disclosed. The system may be used in connection with supplying video, audio and data such as weather-related text, graphics, and information to affiliated receivers in a network for broadcast or display. Receivers may be addressed singly or in groups and allowed to determine their own addresses from information keyed, directly or indirectly, to a receiver characteristic such as the unit serial number. Lists of commands denominated "scripts" and transmitted to receivers are used for controlling the various modes or states of the receivers.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A communications system having a transmitter, comprising a plurality of hierarchically addressable receivers adaptable to receive and process transmissions from the transmitter, which transmissions include an indexed address list in which the index corresponds to a characteristic of at least one receiver, for permitting each receiver to identify its addresses, instructions, and data requirements.
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12. A communications system comprising:
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a. a transmitter for periodically transmitting first audio, video, and data signals via satellite; b. means for providing second signals selected from the group consisting of audio, video, and data signals; c. memory means associated with the transmitter; and d. a plurality of hierarchically addressable receivers remote from the transmitter, each of which receivers comprises; i. means for receiving and processing the first audio, video, and data signals transmitted form the transmitter via satellite; ii. means for processing and storing the second signals; iii. means for outputting the processed first and second signals; and iv. means, to which the outputting means is responsive, for altering the output of the outputting means if no transmissions from the transmitter are received by the receiving and processing means within a preselected period of time; at least one of which transmissions from the transmitter includes (1) a first address corresponding to a characteristic of at least one receiver, (2) a second address corresponding on a 1;
1 basis with the first address, with first and second addresses are stored in the memory means in their corresponding relationship, (3) a list containing periodically variable addresses corresponding on an n;
1 basis with the second address, where n is an integer having a value of at least one, for permitting the at lest one receiver having the characteristic to identify its periodically variable addresses, and (4) instructions for processing the first and second signals.
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13. A communications system having a transmitter, comprising a plurality of addressable receivers adaptable to receive and process periodic transmissions from the transmitter, at least one of which transmissions includes (1) a first address corresponding to a characteristic of at least one receiver, (2) a second address corresponding on a 1:
- 1 basis with the first address, and (3) a list containing periodically variable addresses corresponding on an n;
1 basis with the second address, where n is an integer having a value of at least one, for permitting the at least one receiver having the characteristic to identify its periodically variable addresses. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
- 1 basis with the first address, and (3) a list containing periodically variable addresses corresponding on an n;
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16. A communications system having a transmitter, comprising a plurality of receivers adaptable to receive and process transmissions from the transmitter, which transmissions convey first information related to a fixed characteristic of a first one of the plurality of receivers and second, at least periodically variable, information indexed to the first information, which second information permits the first receiver to identify and process conveyed third information intended for it while precluding at least one other of the plurality of receivers from processing the third information.
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17. A method for communicating comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a first transmitter for periodically transmitting audio, video, and data signals via satellite; b. providing a second transmitter for transmitting signals selected from the group consisting of audio, video, and data signals; c. providing memory means associated with the first transmitter; and d. providing a plurality of hierarchically addressable receivers remote from the first transmitter, each of which receivers comprises; i. means for receiving and processing the audio, video, and data signals transmitted from the first transmitter via satellite; ii. means for processing and storing the signals transmitted from the second transmitter; iii. means for outputting the processed signals transmitted from the first and second signals; and iv. means, to which the outputting means is responsive, for altering the output of the outputting means if no transmissions from the first transmitter are received by the receiving and processing means within a preselected period of time; and e. transmitting at least one transmission from the first transmitter which includes (1) a first address corresponding to a characteristic of at least one receiver, (2) a second address corresponding on a 1;
1 basis with the first address, which first and second addresses are stored in the memory means in their corresponding relationship, (3) a list containing periodically variable addresses corresponding on an n;
1 basis with the second address, where n is an integer having a value of at least one, for permitting the at least one receiver having the characteristic to identify its periodically variable addresses, and (4instructions for processing the signals transmitted from both the first and second transmitters.
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Specification