Television/telephone system with annunciator and intercom feature

• US 4,427,847 A
• Filed: 08/10/1981
• Issued: 01/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation
• Inventors: Snopko, Paul A., Hofmann, Judson A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/291,655
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1 H, 179/1 HF, 179/2 B, 179/2 TV, 179/37, 179/99 A, 179/100 L, 358/85, 455/74
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems

Abstract

A television receiver comprises a television system energized by the powerlines of a commercial power grid, a telephone network access system including a microphone disposed in close proximity with the audio speaker of the television system and a remote control system enabling the receiver to be operated in a television mode or a telephone mode. The television receiver according to the invention is characterized by having an annunciator/intercom enabled for operation by the remote control system. In the annunciator mode, the audio section of the television system is disabled and the microphone is connected through a radio-frequency signal transmitter to the power lines for generating a radio-frequency signal for local transmission. A frequency-modulator is included for modulating the radio frequency signal. At least one remotely located radio-frequency receiver coupled to the power lines is provided for receiving and demodulating the radio-frequency signal and rendering audible television receiver user voice signals. The television receiver user can therefore announce a telephone caller when the television receiver is operated in the annunciator mode. Alternately, intercom units may be employed to provide a two-way intercom conversation link between the television receiver user and a remotely located called party.

Claims

1. A combined television, telephone and annuciator system housed within a unitary television cabinet comprising:

video signal processing and display means responsive to a received television signal for producing a video display image corresponding to the video component thereof;

audio signal processing means responsive to a received television signal for producing an audio signal corresponding to the audio component thereof;

audio output means comprising audio amplifier means and speaker means, said audio output means being operable for converting said audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said combined system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker means;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said system to a remote location, said transmitted message being excluded from said audio output means;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message; and

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said combined system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker means to said microphone means while said annunciator means is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party by transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said combined system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver.

2. The combined television, telephone and annunciator system of claim 1 wherein said user-controlled switching means comprises a hand-held remote control transmitter including mode selection means selectively operable for designating a desired one of said operating modes and circuit means responsive to said remote control transmitter for operating said combined system in the mode designated thereby.

3. The combined television, telephone and annunciator system of claim 2 wherein said circuit means comprises means for automatically re-establishing operation of said combined system in one of said first and second mode substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said combined system in said third mode.

4. The combined television, telephone and annunciator system of claim 2 wherein said circuit means comprises means for automatically establishing operation of said combined system in a fourth mode substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said combined system in said third mode, said fourth mode comprising a hold mode wherein said two-way telephone link is established with said talk and listen channels being disabled and said audio output means being operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal.

5. The combined television, telephone and annunciator system of claim 4 including means for providing a visual indication of the user of said combined system of the operation thereof in said fourth mode and means responsive to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device for breaking said two-way telephone link and extinguishing said visual indication.

6. The combined television, telephone and annunciator system of claim 2 wherein a commercial power grid network is used for providing operating power therefor and wherein said annunciator means comprises transmitting means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said combined system as a modulated radio frequency signal through said power grid network, said at least one remotely located receiver comprising a radio frequency receiver coupled to said power grid network and including a speaker for converting said transmitted message to a corresponding acoustical signal.

7. The method of operating a home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

operating the video and audio signal processing circuits of a television receiver for viewing and listening to the video and audio components of a received television signal;

providing an alerting signal through the speaker of the audio circuit of said television receiver for indicating an incoming telephone call;

establishing a two-way telephone conversation link between the viewer of said television receiver and the telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel operating through the speaker of said television receiver audio circuit and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker; and

using said microphone means to transmit a message through the home power grid system and which is excluded from the television receiver audio circuit for announcing the telephone call to a location remote from said television receiver while muting the television receiver audio circuit to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker to said microphone means.

8. The method of claim 7 including the step of automatically re-establishing said two-way telephone conversation link substantially immediately after the completion of said announcing step.

9. The method of claim 7 including the step of placing said incoming telephone call on hold and providing an indication thereof while operating said television receiver substantially immediately after the completion of said announcing step.

10. The method of claim 9 including the step of removing said incoming telephone call from hold in response to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device for breaking said two-way telephone conversation link while extinguishing said indication.

11. A home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

means developing a baseband audio signal;

audio output means including an acoustical speaker operable for converting said baseband audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said communications system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said communications system to a remote location, said transmitted message being excluded from said audio output means;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message; and

remotely operable user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said communications system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker to said microphone means while said annunciator means is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party by transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said communication system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver.

12. A home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

means developing a baseband audio signal;

audio output means including an acoustical speaker operable for converting said baseband audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said communications system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said communications systems to a remote location, said transmitted message being excluded from said audio output means;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message; and

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said communications system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker to said microphone means while said annunciator means is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party by transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said communications system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver;

said switching means further comprising means for automatically re-establishing operation of said communications system in one of said first or second modes substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said communications system in said third mode.

13. A home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

means developing a baseband audio signal;

audio output means including an acoustical speaker operable for converting said baseband audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said communications system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said communications systems to a remote location;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message;

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said communications system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted while said annunciator mans is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party for transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said communications system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver;

said switching means further comprising means for automatically establishing operation of said communications system in a fourth mode substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said communications system in said third mode, and fourth mode comprising a hold mode wherein said two-way telephone link is established with said talk and listen channels being disabled and said audio output means being operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal; and

means for providing a visual indication of the user of said communications system of the operation thereof in said fourth mode and means responsive to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device for breaking said two-way telephone link and extinguishing said visual indication.

14. A home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

means developing a baseband audio signal;

audio output means including an acoustical speaker operable for converting said baseband audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said communications system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said communications systems to a remote location;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message;

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said communications system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted while said annunciator mans is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party by transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said communications system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver;

said switching means further comprising means for automatically establishing operation of said communications system in a fourth mode substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said communications system in said third mode, said fourth mode comprising a hold mode wherein said two-way telephone link is established with said talk and listen channels being disabled and said audio output means being operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal; and

means for providing a visual indication to the user of said communications system of the operation thereof in said fourth mode and means responsive to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device for extinguishing said visual indication;

said user controlled switching means comprising a hand-held remote control transmitter including mode selection means selectively operable for designating a desired one of said operating modes and circuit means responsive to said remote control transmitter for operating said communications system in the mode designated thereby.

15. The method of operating a home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

operating an audio signal processing device including an acoustical speaker for producing an output acoustical signal;

providing an alerting signal through said acoustical speaker for indicating an incoming telephone call;

establishing a two-way telephone conversation link between the user of said communications system and the telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel operating through said acoustical speaker and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker; and

using said microphone means to transmit a message through the home power grid system and which is excluded from the audio signal processing device for announcing the telephone call to a location remote from said communications system while muting said audio signal processing device to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker to said microphone means.

16. The method of operating a home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

operating an audio signal processing device including an acoustical speaker for producing an output acoustical signal;

providing an alerting signal through said acoustical speaker for indicating an incoming telephone call;

establishing a two-way telephone conversation link between the user of said communications system and the telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel operating through said acoustical speaker and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

using said microphone means to transmit a message through the home power grid system and which is excluded from the audio signal processing device for announcing the telephone call to a location remote from said communications system while muting said audio signal processing device to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker to said microphone means; and

re-establishing said two-way telephone conversation link substantially immediately after the completion of said announcing step.

17. The method of operating a home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

operating an audio signal processing device including an acoustical speaker for producing an output acoustical signal;

providing an alerting signal through said acoustical speaker for indicating an incoming telephone call;

establishing a two-way telephone conversation link between the user of said communications system and the telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel operating through said acoustical speaker and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

using said microphone means to transmit a message through the home power grid system for announcing the telephone call to a location remote from said communications system while muting said audio signal processing device;

placing the incoming telephone call on hold while operating said audio signal processing device substantially immediately after the completion of said announcing step;

providing a visual indication to the user of said communications system that said incoming telephone call has been placed on hold; and

extinguishing said visual indication and breaking said two-way telephone link in response to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device.

18. A combined television, telephone and intercom system housed within a unitary television cabinet comprising:

video signal processing and display means responsive to a received television signal for producing a video display image corresponding to the video component thereof;

audio signal processing means responsive to a received television signal for producing an audio signal corresponding to the audio component thereof;

audio output means comprising audio amplifier means and speaker means, said audio output means being operable for converting said audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said combined system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker means;

first and second intercom means operable for providing a two-way intercom conversation link between the user of said combined system and a remotely located party, said first intercom means including means for muting said audio output means to prevent acoustical feedback from said speaker to said microphone means while said microphone means is operated for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said combined system and which is excluded from said audio output means, said first intercom means further including said audio output means for reproducing a message voiced by said party; and

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said combined system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said two-way intercom conversation link is established without disconnecting a previously established two-way telephone conversation link.

19. The combined television, telephone and intercom system of claim 18 wherein said user-controlled switching means comprises a hand-held remote control transmitter including mode selection means selectively operable for designating a desired one of said operating modes and circuit means responsive to said remote control transmitter for operating said combined system in the mode designated thereby.

20. The combined television, telephone and intercom system of claim 19 wherein said circuit means comprises means for automatically re-establishing operation of said combined system in one of said first or second modes substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said combined system in said third mode.

21. A combined television, telephone and annunciator system housed within a unitary television cabinet comprising:

video signal processing and display means responsive to a received television signal for producing a video display image corresponding to the video component thereof;

audio signal processing means responsive to a received television signal for producing an audio signal corresponding to the audio component thereof;

audio output means comprising audio amplifier means and speaker means, said audio output means being operable for converting said audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said combined system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker means;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said system to a remote location;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message; and

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said combined system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted while said annunciator means is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party by transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said combined system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver;

said user-controlled switching means comprising a hand-held remote control transmitter including mode selection means selectively operable for designating a desired one of said operating modes and circuit means responsive to said remote control transmitter for operating said combined system in the mode designated thereby; and

said circuit means comprising means for automatically establishing operation of said combined system in a fourth mode substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said combined system in said third mode, said fourth mode comprising a hold mode wherein said two-way telephone link is established with said talk and listen channels being disabled and said audio output means being operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal.

22. A combined television, telephone and annunciator system housed within a unitary television cabinet comprising:

video signal processing and display means responsive to a received television signal for producing a video display image corresponding to the video component thereof;

audio signal processing means responsive to a received television signal for producing an audio signal corresponding to the audio component theref;

audio output means comprising audio amplifier means and speaker means, said audio output means being operable for converting said audio signal to a corresponding acoustical signal;

telephone network access means operable for providing a two-way telephone conversation link between a user of said combined system and a telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel including said audio output means and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker means;

annunciator means operable in cooperation with said microphone means for transmitting a message voiced by the user of said system to a remote location;

at least one remotely located receiver for receiving and reproducing said transmitted message; and

user-controlled switching means for selectively controlling said combined system for operation in a first mode wherein said audio output means is operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal, in a second mode wherein said two-way telephone conversation link is established in response to an incoming telephone call and in a third mode wherein said audio output means is muted while said annunciator means is operated for announcing said incoming telephone call to a remotely located party by transmitting a selected message voiced by the user of said combined system for reproduction by said remotely located receiver;

said user-controlled switching means comprising a hand-held remote control transmitter including mode selection means selectively operable for designating a desired one of said operating modes and circuit means responsive to said remote control transmitter for operating said combined system in the mode designated thereby; and

said circuit means comprising means for automatically establishing operation of said combined system in a fourth mode substantially immediately after the completion of operation of said combined system in said third mode, said fourth mode comprising a hold mode wherein said two-way telephone link is established with said talk and listen channels being disabled and said audio output means being operated for converting said audio signal to said corresponding acoustical signal and including means for providing a visual indication to the user of said combined system of the operation thereof in said fourth mode and means responsive to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device for breaking said two-way telephone link and extinguishing said visual indication.

23. The method of operating a home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

operating the video and audio signal processing circuits of a television receiver for viewing and listening to the video and audio components of a received television signal;

providing an alerting signal through the speaker of the audio circuit of said television receiver for indicating an incoming telephone call;

establishing a two-way telephone conversation link between the viewer of said television receiver and the telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel operating through the speaker of said television receiver audio circuit and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

using said microphone means to transmit a message through the home power grid system for announcing the telephone call to a location remote from said television receiver while muting the television receiver audio circuit; and

placing said incoming telephone call on hold and providing an indication thereof while operating said television receiver substantially immediately after the completion of said announcing step.

24. The method of operating a home communications system housed within a unitary cabinet comprising:

operating the video and audio signal processing circuits of a television receiver for viewing and listening to the video and audio components of a received television signal;

providing an alerting signal through the speaker of the audio circuit of said television receiver for indicating an incoming telephone call;

establishing a two-way telephone conversation link between the viewer of said television receiver and the telephone caller, said two-way telephone link comprising a listen channel operating through the speaker of said television receiver audio circuit and a talk channel including microphone means disposed within said cabinet in close proximity with said speaker;

using said microphone means to transmit a message through the home power grid system for announcing the telephone call to a location remote from said television receiver while muting the television receiver audio circuit;

placing said incoming telephone call on hold and providing an indication thereof while operating said television receiver substantially immediately after the completion of said announcing step; and

removing said incoming telephone call from hold in response to an off-hook condition of a remote telephone device for breaking said two-way telephone conversation link while extinguishing said indication.