Abstract: In a closed circuit television system having a central facility connected to a plurality of terminals, it is possible to display billing data showing charges for hotel accommodations, pay television reception, equipment use, etc., at the terminals. The computer in the central facility stores data corresponding to the charges owed by a customer at one of the terminals. When a customer wishes to see his bill, he depresses a button at his terminal. The appropriate charges are retrieved from the computer and superposed on a fixed picture which has been transmitted from the central facility so that the superposed picture may be displayed at the terminal.

Abstract: An interface device is made connectable to a printer parallel port of a computer and contains a memory device addressed by print data received from the computer. The device further includes an apparatus for generating a remocon code to remote-control controlled equipment on the basis of the data addressed in the memory device and which sends said code to the controlled equipment.

Abstract: A system for processing picture information adapted for combining or switching picture informations, one of which is obtained by a process of a Central Processing Unit and another of which is supplied from an external appliance. The system includes a device for detecting the presence of second picture information and informing the Central Processing Unit of same. The Central Processing Unit is controlled to perform the selection between two types of picture information in accordance with the operation of the detecting and informing device. The combination or selection between two types of picture information is thus performed by a software for operating the Central Processing Unit.

Abstract: An interface device includes connections to a printer port of a computer apparatus, and logic circuitry for selecting a particular sensor from among one or more sensors based on data from the computer apparatus. A signal is fed back to the printer port by way of the port connections based on the output of the sensor selected by said logic circuitry.