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Cable television-usage system

  • US 5,289,271 A
  • Filed: 09/09/1991
  • Issued: 02/22/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A cable television-usage system for determining the channel usage of a television set within a dwelling, said television having a plurality of channels, with each said channel having a unique local oscillator signal corresponding to that channel comprising:

  • channel detection means for detecting the local oscillator signal of the channel that said television is tuned;

    signal processing means for converting said local oscillator signal provided by said channel detection means into a signal corresponding to the channel being used;

    timing processing means for measuring the elapsed time that each channel is being used by timing the duration of the signals produced by said signal processing means; and

    providing a signal representing the usage time of each channel of said television;

    memory storage means for storing said signal provided by said timing processing means; and

    transmitter means for selectively transmitting said usage time of each channel of said television; and

    wherein said channel detection means further comprises;

    switching means for electronically disconnecting the cable from each said television set during the interval when said channel detection means is detecting the local oscillator signal of the channel being used.

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