Cable television system selectively distributing pre-recorded video and audio messages

• US 4,734,764 A
• Filed: 05/06/1985
• Issued: 03/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TVWorks LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cableshare, Inc. (Source Media LLC)
• Inventors: Hart, George M., Pocock, Terrence H., McNorgan, Richard M., Coumans, Peter J. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/730,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 358/84, 358/86, 358/146, 455/2, 455/4, 455/5
• US Class Current: 725/98
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/12 different stations being capable of presenting different information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00098 via a television channel, e.g. for a series of still pictures with or without sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A method of, and a system for, selectively delivering still television video with accompanying audio to home subscribers over a cable television system for advertising, promotional or educational purposes. A maximum number of home subscribers can interactively request presentations of their own choosing to be displayed on their home television sets. Only one standard television channel is required for transmission of still video with accompanying audio to serve 300 concurrent users. No equipment is required in the subscriber'"'"'s home. The video is presented as still frames from one of a number of videodisc players, transmitted over one television channel during the appropriate time interval of 1/30th (or 1/25th) of a second. Such video frames, which may also contain overlaid graphics information, are uniquely addressed to a remote storage device. Unused bandwidth is used for the transmission of up to 300 discrete audio messages. The remote storage device identifies the appropriate video still frame, stores it, combines it with the corresponding audio message and conveys both to the home subscribers'"'"' television on a pre-selected channel. By uniquely addressing video frames to the remote storage device, either 30 (or 25) different video frames per second can be conveyed on one television channel to 30 (or 25) different remote storage devices for retransmission to home subscribers. Thus, if a home subscriber sees a given still video frame for 10 seconds, his remote storage device need not be updated for those 10 seconds, enabling the system to transmit 300 (10 seconds×30/second) different video frames to 300 other remote storage devices, thereby serving 300 concurrent users.

Claims

1. In a cable antenna television system that includes:

(A) a cable hub for receiving, generating and amplifying a plurality of television signals that are broadcast over predetermined frequency channels;

(B) a trunk cable with one end connected to the cable hub to receive and transmit said signals to;

(C) a plurality of nodes along said cable, each node adapted to convey said signals to;

(D) a bridger amplifier connected to the trunk cable at each node and adapted to amplify and to transmit said signals onto;

(E) a distribution cable for transmitting said amplified signals through;

(F) a tap to a drop cable to a subscriber'"'"'s home that is adapted for connection to a subscriber'"'"'s television receiver;

an improved system selectively delivering pre-recorded video frames and audio messages, wherein a video frame consists of at least one video field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a video blanking interval, and a second plurality of scan lines repesenting a video picture data;

(G) a central control unit (CCU), located at the cable hub, comprising;

(1) a central processing unit for co-ordination of all CCU functions;

(2) a plurality of telephone management units (TMU) that receive telephoned requests from the subscribers and relay those requests to the central processing unit;

(3) means for generating master synchronization pulses;

(4) a pluarlity of video presentation units each of which includes;

(i) a controller for coordinating the activities the presentation unit, including prioritizing and scheduling the transmission of video frames and accompanying audio messages;

(ii) a video disc player synchronized to the synchronization pulses (3), that stores discrete video frames according to a standard television format, with accompanying audio frames;

(iii) a plurality of audio frame stores adapted to selectively receive the audio frames associated with a particular video frame from a video player (ii) and to convert those audio frames into a modulated analogue signal;

(iv) means for tuning and transmitting the analogue audio signal onto the trunk cable on a discrete radio frequency, on command;

(v) a graphics decoder to receive from the central processing unit graphics information associated with a particular video frame and to generate in graphic form such information;

(vi) a video combiner to receive the video frame from the video player and overlay the graphics information from the graphics decoder onto the video frame;

(vii) means to insert an encoded address of a node frame store for a designated subscriber onto the vertical blanking interval of the video frame;

(viii) means for conveying the encoded video frame to;

(5) a multiplexing switch, responsive to commands from each conroller in each presentation unit, that receives a video frame from a selected presentation unit and transmits that video frame down the trunk cable;

the switch including a scheduler that, in communication with the controller, prioritizes and schedules the transmission of the video frames, then informs the controller that a specified video frame has been transmitted onto the trunk cable so that the can command the specified audio frame store to commence transmitting the accompanying audio messages down the trunk cable;

(H) a node frame store, located at a node, to receive video frames and accompanying audio messages from the trunk cable and to transmit both onto the distribution cable;

the node frame store including

(1) a television tuner to pass a predetermined channel that is carrying the video frames on the trunk cable;

(2) a channel blocker in parallel with the television tuner to block the channel carrying the video frames on the trunk cable, while allowing other channel frequencies on the trunk to pass onto the distribution cable;

(3) a node frame store module comprising;

(i) a radio receiver connected to the trunk cable, and tuned to a specific radio frequency assigned to that node frame store module;

(ii) a video frame storage means connected to the tuner (1) adapted for the storage and transmission of a video frame;

(iii) a node frame store processing unit that examines each video frame passed by the tuner and identifies those video frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification, the video frame storage means is activated to store that video frame;

(iv) means to modulate both the video frame from the video frame store and the audio messages from the radio receiver onto the same television channel that was used to transmit the video frames to the node frame store, and to transmit both onto the distribution cable, along with the channels passed by the channel blocker.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of node frame stores located at a given node, each node frame store processing unit having a unique address.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, including

(a) a plurality of nodes spatially disposed on the trunk cable;

and,

(b) a plurality of node frame store modules located at each of the spatially disposed nodes, each node frame store processing unit having a unique address.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein

(a) the video disc player stores two interleaved fields as a video frame according to the standard television format and means (G(4)vii) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of the video frame;

(b) the multiplexing switch (5) passes two interleaved video fields as a video frame; and

,

(c) the node frame store module receives two interleaved video fields as a video frame.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein step (a) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of each interleaved field of the video frame.

6. The system as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein

(a) the video disc player stores two interleaved fields as a video frame according to the standard television format and means (G(4)vii) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of the video frame;

(b) the multiplexing switch (5) passes, at least every 1/25th of a second, two interleaved video fields as a video frame; and

,

(c) the node frame store module receives two interleaved video fields as a video frame.

7. The system as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the radio in each node frame store module is tuned to a different predetermined radio frequency.

8. In a cable antenna television system that includes:

(A) a cable hub for receiving, generating and amplifying a plurality of television signals that are broadcast over predetermined frequency channels;

(B) a trunk cable with one end connected to the cable hub to receive and transmit said signals to;

(C) a plurality of nodes along said cable, each node adapted to convey said signals to;

(D) a bridger amplifier connected to the trunk cable at each node and adapted to amplify and to transmit said signals onto;

(E) a distribution cable for transmitting said amplified signals through;

(F) a tap to drop cable to a subscriber'"'"'s home that is adapted for connection to a subscriber'"'"'s television receiver;

an improved system selectively delivering pre-recorded video frames and audio messages, wherein a video frame consists of at least one video field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a video blanking interval, and a second plurlity of scan lines representing a video picture data;

(G) a central control unit (CCU), located at the cable hub, comprising;

(1) a central processing unit for co-ordination of all CCU functions;

(2) a plurality of telephone management units (TMU) that receive telephoned requests from the subscribers and relay those requests to the central processing unit;

(3) means for generating master synchronization pulses;

(4) a plurality of video presenation units each of which includes;

(i) a controller for coordinating the activities of the presentation unit, including prioritizing and scheduling the transmission of video frames and accompanying audio messages;

(ii) a video disc player synchronized to the synchronization pulses (3), that stores discrete video frames according to a standard television format, with accompanying audio frames;

(iii) a graphics decoder to receive from the central processing unit grapics information associated with a particular video frame and to generate in graphic form such information;

(iv) a video combiner to receive the video frame from the video player and overlay the graphics information from the graphics decoder onto the video frame;

(v) means connecting to the video combiner and to the video disc player, for switching between the video disc player for audio frames, and the video combiner for video frames;

(vi) means to insert an encoded address of a node frame store for a designated subscriber onto the vertical blanking interval of the video frame;

(vii) means for conveying the encoded video frame to;

(5) a multiplexing switch, responsive to commands from each controller in each presenation unit, that receives a video frame from a selected presentation unit and transmits that video frame down the trunk cable;

the switch including a scheduler that, in communication with the controller, prioritizes and schedules the transmission of the frames, then informs the controller that specified frames have been transmitted onto the trunk cable;

(H) a node frame store, located at a node, to receive video frames and accompanying audio messages from the trunk cable and to transmit both onto the distribution cable;

the node frame store including

(1) a television tuner to pass a predetermined channel that is carrying the video frames on the trunk cable;

(2) a channel blocker in parallel with the television tuner to block the channel carrying the video frames on the trunk cable, while allowing other channel frequencies on the trunk to pass onto the distribution cable;

(3) a node frame store module comprising;

(i) an audio frame storage means, connected to the tuner (1), to receive audio frames and to convert those audio frames into an analogue audio signal;

(ii) a video frame storage means connected to the tuner (1) adapted for the storage and transmission of a video frame;

(iii) a node frame store processing unit that examines each video frame passed by the tuner and identifies those video frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification, the video frame storage means is activated to store that video frame;

(iv) means to modulate both the video frame from the video frame store and the analogue audio from the audio frame store onto the same television channel that was used to transmit the video frames to the node frame store;

(v) means to transmit onto the distribution cable, along with the channels passed by the channel blocker, the channel created by means (3(iv)).

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, including a plurality of node frame stores located at a given node, each node frame store processing unit having a unique address.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, including

(a) a plurality of nodes spatially disposed on the trunk cable;

and

(b) a plurality of node frame store modules located at each of the spatially disposed nodes, with each node frame store processing unit having a unique address.

11. The system as claimed in claims 8, 9, or 10, wherein

(a) the video disc player stores two interleaved fields as a video frame according to the standard television format and means (G(4)(vi)) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of the video frame;

(b) the multiplexing switch (5) passes two interleaved video fields as a video frame; and

,

(c) the node frame store module receives two interleaved video fields as a video frame.

12. The system as claimed in claims 8, 9, or 10, wherein

(a) the video disc player stores two interleaved fields as a video frame according to the standard television format and means (G(4)(vi) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of the video frame;

(b) the multiplexing switch (5) passes, at least every 1/25th of a second, two interleaved video fields as a video frame; and

(c) the node frame store module receives two interleaved video fields as a video frame.

13. The system as claimed in claims 8, 9, or 10, wherein means (G(4)(vi)) also inserts the address onto the vertical blanking interval of the audio frame and means (H(3)(iii)) also examines each audio frame passed by the tuner and identifies those audio frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification, the audio frame storage means is activated to store that audio frame.

14. The system as claimed in claims 8, 9, or 10, wherein means (G(4)(vi) also inserts the address onto the vertical blanking interval of the audio frame and means (H(3)(iii) also examines each audio frame passed by the tuner and identifies those audio frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification, the audio frame storage means is activated to store that audio frame and wherein

(a) the video disc player stores two interleaved fields as a video frame according to the standard television format and means (G(4)(vi)) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of the video frame;

(b) the multiplexing switch (5) passes two interleaved video fields as a video frame; and

,

(c) the node frame store module receives two interleaved video fields as a video frame.

15. The system as claimed in claims 8, 9, or 10, wherein means (G(4)(vi)) also inserts the address onto the vertical blanking interval of the audio frame and means (H(3)(iii)) also examines each audio frame passed by the tuner and identifies those audio frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification, the audio frame storage means is activated to store that audio frame;

and wherein

(a) the video disc player stores two interleaved fields as a video frame according to the standard television format and means (G)(4)(vi)) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of the video frame;

(b) the multiplexing switch (5) passes, at least every 1/25th of a second, two interleaved video fields as a video frame; and

(c) the node frame store module receives two interleaved video fields as a video frame.

16. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein step (a) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of each interleaved field of the video frame.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein step (a) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of each interleaved field of the video frame.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein step (a) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of each interleaved field of the video frame.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein step (a) encodes the address of the subscriber'"'"'s node frame store module onto one of the vertical blanking intervals of each interleaved field of the video frame.

20. An improved method of distributing a pre-recorded video frame that consists of at least one video field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a vertical blanking inteval, and a second plurality of scan linse representing video picture data, the method comprising the steps of

(A) selecting

(1) a primary path for transmission of video frames;

(2) a node along that path; and

(3) a secondary path from the node to a subscriber'"'"'s television set;

(B) assigning a unique address to the secondary path;

(C) inserting upon a predetermined scan line of the vertical blanking interval of the frame a unique address;

(D) transmitting the video frame with the unique address along the primary path on a predetermined television channel;

(E) examining, on the primary path at the node, the predetermined scan line of the video frame for the unique address;

(F) storing that video frame at the node if the unique address matches the address of the secondary path; and

(G) repetitively transmitting on said predetermined channel, at a standard television frame rate, the video frame stored at the node down the secondary path to the subscriber'"'"'s television set as a still video frame.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, including selecting, spatially along the primary path, a plurality of nodes each with a secondary path and wherein the assigning step (B) assigns a unique address to each secondary path.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the selecting step (A) includes the additional step of selecting (4) a predetermined video frame from a plurality of pre-recorded video frames and wherein the inserting step (C) inserts the unique address of a predetermined secondary path on a predetermined scan line of the vertical blanking interval of the predetermined video frame selected by step (A)(4).

23. The method as claimed in claims 20, 21, or 22, wherein the inserting and transmitting steps (C) and (D) occur at least 25 times/second and the inserting step (C) assigns a different unique address during each step.

24. The method as claimed in claims 20, 21, or 22, including the step of (a) transmitting along the primary and one secondary path, audio associated with a uniquely addressed video frame.

25. The method as claimed in claims 20, 21, or 22, including the additional steps of

(a) selecting a third path;

and,

(b) transmitting along the third path, audio associated with a predetermined uniquely addressed video frame.

26. The method as claimed in claims 20, 21, or 22, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval and step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of at least one of the video fields of the video frame a unique address.

27. The method as claimed in claims 20, 21, or 22, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval, and step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of each video field of the video frame a unique address.

28. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval and the inserting step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of at least one of the video fields of the video frame a unique address.

29. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval, and the inserting step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of each video field of the video field a unique address.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval, and step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of at least one of the video fields of the video frame a unique address.

31. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval, and step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of each video field of the video frame a unique address.

32. the method as claimed in claim 25, wherein each video frame is comprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval, and step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of at least one of the video fields of the video frame a unique address.

33. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein each video frame is cmprised of two interleaved video fields, each having a vertical blanking interval, and step (C) inserts upon the vertical blanking interval of each video field of the video frame a unique address.

34. The method of claim 25 wherein said third path comprises a telephone transmission line.

35. The method of claim 25 further including the steps of receiving the audio transmitted along said third path at said node, and remodulating the received audio at said node for transmission on said secondary path.

36. A node frame store for storing a video frame having at least one video field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a vertical blanking interval, and a second plurlity of scan lines representing video picture data, the node frame store comprising;

(A) means for examining signals transmitted on a predetermined television channel over a primary path for a video frame that has one of the scan lines in its video blanking interval uniquely addressed; and

,

(B) means for storing a video frame and for transmitting the stored video frame repetitively at least 25 times/second onto a second path on said predetermined channel;

(C) comparator means for comparing the address examined by means (A) and on a match to a predetermined address, activating the storing means (B) to store a video frame from the primary path which has said predetermined address.

37. The node frame store as claimed in claim 36, including

(D) means for detecting audio along the primary path and transmitting it on the second path.

51. The node frame store of claim 36 further including means for receiving audio signals transmitted on a third path and for transmitting received audio signals on said second path.

38. A node frame store for storing a video frame having at least one vertical field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a vertical blanking interval, and a second plurality of scan lines representing video picture data, the node frame store comprising;

(A) a television tuner to pass video frames transmitted in a predetermined range of channel frequencies on a trunk cable;

(B) a channel blocker in parallel with the television tuner to block a predetermined channel carrying the video frames on the trunk cable, while allowing other channel frequencies on the trunk to pass onto a distribution cable;

(C) a node frame store module comprising;

(1) a radio receiver connected to the trunk, and tuned to a specific radio frequency assigned to that node frame store;

(2) a video frame storage means connnected to the tuner (A) adapted for the storage and transmission of a video frame;

(3) a node frame store processing unit that examines each video frame passed by the tuner and identifies those video frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification,

(4) means to modulate both the video frame from the video frame store and audio from the radio receiver onto the same television channel that was used to transmit the video frames to the node frame store, and to transmit both onto the distribution cable, along with the channels passed by the channel blocker.

39. A node frame store for storing a video frame having at least one video field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a vertical blanking interval, and a second plurality of scan lines representing video picture data, the node frame store comprising;

(A) a television tuner to pass video frames transmitted in a predetermined range of channel frequencies on a trunk cable;

(B) a channel blocker in parallel with the television tuner to block a predetermined channel carrying the video frames on the trunk cable, while allowing other channel frequencies on the trunk to pass onto the distribution cable;

(C) a node frame store module comprising;

(1) an audio frame storage means, connected to the tuner (A), to receive audio frames and to convert those frames into an analogue audio signal;

(2) a video frame storage means connected to the tuner (A) adapted for the storage and transmission of a video frame;

(3) a node frame store processing unit that examines each video frame passed by the tuner and identifies those video frames that are addressed to that particular node frame store, and upon such identification, the video frame storage means is activated to store that video frame;

(4) means to modulate both the video frame from the video frame store and the analogue audio from the audio frame storage means onto the same television channel that was used to transmit the video frames to the node frame store;

(5) means to transmit onto the distribution cable, along with the channels passed by the channel blocker, the modulated signal created by means (4).

40. A node frame store for storing a video frame having at least one video field being a first plurality of scan lines representing a vertical blanking interval, and a second plurality of scan lines representing video picture data, and for storing an audio frame having a first plurlity of scan lines representing a vertical blanking interval, and a second plurality of scan lines representing audio data, the node frame store comprising;

(A) a television tuner communicating with a primary path and adapted to pass a preselected channel that is carrying said frames;

(B) a channel blocker in parallel with the television tuner to block the channel carrying said frames on the primary path, while allowing other channel frequencies on the primary path to pass onto a second path;

(C) a node frame store module comprising;

(i) an audio frame storage means, connected to the television tuner (A), to receive audio frames and to convert those audio frames into an analogue audio signal;

(ii) a video frame storage means connected to the television tuner (A) adapted for the storage and transmisson of a video frame;

(iii) a node frame store processing unit that examines at least each video frame passed by the television tuner and identifies those audio and video frames that are addressed to a predetermined address, and upon such identification, activates the audio and video frame storage means to store respective identified frames;

(iv) means to modulate both the video frame from the video frame store means and the analogue audio from the audio frame store onto a predetermined television channel; and

(v) means to transmit onto the second path the channels passed by the channel blocker and the channel created by means (C(iv)).

41. In a cable televison system of the type in which video information is transmitted on a primary communication link for dissemination to subscribers by means of a plurality of secondary paths, apparatus for providing individual video messages to the subscribers over a common transmission channel of said system, comprising:

means for storing a plurality of individual video messages;

means responsive to a subscriber-initiated request for selecting one of said video messages, encoding the selected message with an address associated with the subscriber, and transmitting the encoded message on said primary link over said common channel;

a plurality of means respectively located at the junctions of said primary link and said secondary paths for receiving video information transmitted over at least said common channel and, responsive to an address which is different for each of said receiving means, for storing the selected message; and

means for transmitting the stored message over one of said secondary paths on said common channel to a television receiver of the subscriber who initiated the request.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said video messages each comprise a single video frame, and said means for transmitting the stored message repetitively transmits the single frame at a frequency related to the frame rate of a television picture to present a still frame image to the subscriber.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said means for storing a plurality of individual video messages comprises a plurality of video storage devices each storing at least a portion of said plurality of messages, and said selecting and transmitting means includes a multiplexing switch for assembling different single frame messages from various ones of said storage devices into a video signal in which the different messages are transmitted at a rate equal to the frame rate of a standard television signal.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said receiving means is capable of receiving television signals transmitted over a number of different channels and passing them onto the secondary paths, and includes a channel blocker for preventing signals transmitted on said primary link over said common channel from being passed onto said secondary path and a modulator for transmitting a stored message over said common channel on the secondary path.

45. The system of claim 41 wherein said primary link includes a trunk cable and said secondary path includes at least one of a distribution cable and a drop cable.

46. The apparatus of claim 41 further including means for storing a pluraliy of audio messages respectively associated with said video messages, and means for transmitting the audio message that is associated with a selected video message to said receiving means together with the transmitted video messages.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said receiving means includes a receiver that is tuned to a predetermined carrier frequency, and said audio message transmitting means includes a tunable transmitter for modulating a carrier signal at said predetermined frequency with a selected audio messages.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said audio message is transmitted as an audio frame in the format of a video frame, said audio message transmitting means includes means for encoding the audio frame with said address, said receiving means includes means for storing an audio frame that is encoded with said address, and said stored message transmitting means transmits a stored audio message along with the stored video message.

49. In a cable television system of the type in which video information is transmitted on a primary communication link for dissemination to subscribers via secondary paths, apparatus for providing individual single frame video messages to the subscribers over a common transmission channel of said system, comprising:

a plurality of video storage devices for storing various single frame video messages;

means responsive to a subscriber-initiated request for selecting individual frames stored in the storage devices and encoding each selected frame with an address associated with a subscriber;

means for assembling the frames selected from different storage devices into a video signal and transmitting the video signal on said primary link over said common channel at a standard television frame rate so that individual messages are transmitted at a rate that is equal to the standard frame rate;

means for receiving the video signal transmitted over at least said common channel and, responsive to said address, for storing a selected frame; and

means for repetitively transmitting the stored frame at the standard frame rate on said common channel over a secondary path to a television receiver of the subscriber who initiated the request.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said receiving means is capable of receiving televison signals transmitted over a number of different channels and passing them onto the secondary paths, and includes a channel blocker for preventing signals transmitted on said primary link over said common channel from being passed onto said secondary path and a modulator for transmitting a stored message over said common channel on the secondary path.