Communication system for supplementing off-air or cable TV signals with locally generated video messages
First Claim
1. In combination with a TV signal distribution system in a hotel or similar facility wherein externally originated TV signals of a plurality of different predetermined frequencies are fed to a plurality of TV receivers located in the rooms of the hotel or the like, each said TV receiver being capable of receiving one of said TV signals at a time, apparatus which comprises:
- means for generating a local TV signal having a predetermined frequency within the hotel facility;
means for converting the frequency of said local TV signal into a plurality of local TV signals which respectively have a frequency corresponding to said plurality of different predetermined frequencies receivable by said plurality of TV receivers; and
means for selectively interrupting the reception of said externally originated TV signals on said plurality of TV receivers and for causing said plurality of local TV signals to be displayed thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system which supplements a hotel'"'"'s in-house cable or off-air TV signal distribution network for permitting locally originated video messages, which may be commercial in nature, to automatically interrupt the regular TV signals on each of the TV receivers in the rooms of the hotel. The local signal may be generated by means of pre-recorded tapes played on a video tape player or, alternatively, may be generated from a live broadcast using a TV camera located, for example, in the lounge of the hotel. The locally generated TV signal, which is of a predetermined frequency, is frequency converted into as many frequencies as may be received by the TV receivers in the hotel establishment. An electronic timer may automatically and periodically interrupt the regular TV signals being received with the locally generated signal for a predetermined time period which may be set, for example, to correspond with the regular network commercial interruptions.
28 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In combination with a TV signal distribution system in a hotel or similar facility wherein externally originated TV signals of a plurality of different predetermined frequencies are fed to a plurality of TV receivers located in the rooms of the hotel or the like, each said TV receiver being capable of receiving one of said TV signals at a time, apparatus which comprises:
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means for generating a local TV signal having a predetermined frequency within the hotel facility; means for converting the frequency of said local TV signal into a plurality of local TV signals which respectively have a frequency corresponding to said plurality of different predetermined frequencies receivable by said plurality of TV receivers; and means for selectively interrupting the reception of said externally originated TV signals on said plurality of TV receivers and for causing said plurality of local TV signals to be displayed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of automatically providing locally originated TV signals to a plurality of TV receivers normally adapted to receive a plurality of externally generated different frequency signals via a locally installed signal distribution system comprising the steps of:
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feeding said externally generated TV signals and said locally originated TV signals to electronic switch means whose output is fed to said plurality of TV receivers; and controlling said switch means to automatically feed said locally originated TV signals to said plurality of TV receivers in lieu of said externally generated TV signals at predetermined time intervals and for predetermined periods of time, wherein said step of feeding said locally originated TV signals to electronic switch means includes the steps of; originating a local TV signal at a predetermined frequency; converting the frequency of said local TV signal into a plurality of local TV signals having different frequencies all capable of being received by said TV receivers; combining said plurality of local TV signals onto a single line; and connecting said single line to said electronic switch means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. For use in a TV signal distribution system in a hotel or other similar facility, wherein externally originated TV signals of discrete different predetermined frequencies corresponding to TV channels are each fed to each of a plurality of TV receivers, a system for substituting a locally originated TV signal on each of said predetermined frequencies comprising:
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means for generating a local TV signal; means for producing a plurality of discrete different carrier frequencies respectively corresponding to said plurality of discrete different predetermined frequencies, each of said carrier frequencies being modulated by said local TV signal; and means for interrupting the feed of said externally originated TV signals to said plurality of said TV receivers and feeding said carrier frequencies modulated by said local TV signal to each of said plurality of TV receivers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification