Message delivery system operable in an override mode upon reception of a command signal
First Claim
1. A message delivery system, comprising:
- (a) a head end apparatus comprising means for reproducing video programs, means for reproducing audio programs, means for reproducing messages, controller means having key means for generating a command signal for said messages, modulator means for modulating said video programs, said messages, and said audio programs and said command signal in different frequency bands, respectively, and multiplexer means for multiplexing said modulated video programs, said modulated messages, said modulated audio programs and said modulated command signal;
(b) a plurality of terminal units each comprising a means for selecting desired ones of said multiplexed, modulated video programs and audio programs, tuner means coupled to the selecting means for receiving and demodulating said modulated messages, said selected modulated video programs, said selected modulated audio programs, and said modulated command signal, a means for receiving the demodulated command signal and generating in response to the demodulated command signal an override signal for forcing the tuner means to select the frequency band of said modulated messages, a display means for displaying the demodulated selected video programs, an audio output terminal for receiving the demodulated selected audio programs, and a volume control for controlling the amplitude of the demodulated selected audio programs received by the audio output terminal; and
(c) means for transmitting said video programs, said messages, said audio programs and said command signal from said head end apparatus to the terminal units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An information transmission system for transmitting signals from a transmitting side through a single transmission line to a plurality of terminal units. When the terminal units are interrupted by a command signal from the transmitting side, transmission of ordinary information signals to the terminal units is inhibited. When the terminal units are released from the interrupt mode, transmission of ordinary information signals automatically resumes, so that the ordinary information signals are reproduced from the point in time point at which they were interrupted. Normal operation of the terminal units is partially or totally inhibited during the interrupt mode. The system may be embodied in a passenger vehicle, in which a terminal unit is provided at each of a plurality of passenger seats.
121 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A message delivery system, comprising:
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(a) a head end apparatus comprising means for reproducing video programs, means for reproducing audio programs, means for reproducing messages, controller means having key means for generating a command signal for said messages, modulator means for modulating said video programs, said messages, and said audio programs and said command signal in different frequency bands, respectively, and multiplexer means for multiplexing said modulated video programs, said modulated messages, said modulated audio programs and said modulated command signal; (b) a plurality of terminal units each comprising a means for selecting desired ones of said multiplexed, modulated video programs and audio programs, tuner means coupled to the selecting means for receiving and demodulating said modulated messages, said selected modulated video programs, said selected modulated audio programs, and said modulated command signal, a means for receiving the demodulated command signal and generating in response to the demodulated command signal an override signal for forcing the tuner means to select the frequency band of said modulated messages, a display means for displaying the demodulated selected video programs, an audio output terminal for receiving the demodulated selected audio programs, and a volume control for controlling the amplitude of the demodulated selected audio programs received by the audio output terminal; and (c) means for transmitting said video programs, said messages, said audio programs and said command signal from said head end apparatus to the terminal units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A message delivery system, comprising:
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(a) a head end apparatus comprising means for generating video and related audio signals, means for generating separate audio signals, means for generating override video signals, means for generating an override command signal, encoder means for encoding said audio signals and said override command signal, a modulator means for modulating said video signals, said override video signals, and the encoded audio and override command signals emerging from said encoder means, and a multiplexer means connected to said modulator means for multiplexing said modulated video signals, all of said modulated, encoded audio signals, said modulated override video signals, and said modulated, encoded override command signal; (b) a plurality of terminal units, each comprising a selecting means for selecting any desired one of said modulated video and related modulated, encoded audio signals, and said separate modulated, encoded audio signals, a first tuner for receiving and demodulating said selected modulated video signals and said modulated override video signals, a second tuner for receiving and demodulating said selected modulated, encoded audio signals and said modulated, encoded override command signal, each of the first tuner and the second tuner being coupled to the selecting means, a decoder means for decoding the output signal of said second tuner, a display means for displaying said selected, demodulated video signals and said demodulated override video signals, an audio output terminal for receiving said selected, demodulated, decoded audio signals, and a volume control for controlling the amplitude of the selected, demodulated, decoded audio signals received by the audio output terminal, wherein said first tuner is forced to receive said modulated override video signals when said demodulated override command signal is decoded; and (c) means for transmitting multiplexed signals generated by the multiplexer means from the head end apparatus to each of the terminal units. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A message delivery system, comprising:
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a head end apparatus comprising means for reproducing video programs, means for reproducing messages, controller means for enabling and disabling said message reproducing means and for generating a command signal, and a pause or a stop signal for said video program reproducing means upon enablement of said message reproducing means, and multiplexer means for multiplexing said video programs, said messages and said command signal; a plurality of terminal units, each comprising a means for selecting desired ones of said video programs, a tuner for receiving said selected video programs, said messages, and said command signal, means for displaying said selected video programs and said messages, and means for forcing said tuner to receive said messages in response to reception of the command signal; and means for transmitting said multiplexed video programs, said multiplexed messages and said multiplexed command signal from said head end apparatus to each of the terminal units. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification