Abstract: An audiographic telephone conferencing system between a plurality of parties or users either directly connected or through a piece of apparatus known as a "meet me bridge" over voice grade telephone lines. Each user has a programmed personal computer which controls a programmable or "smart" modem, cassette recorder/player, and speakerphone. A protocol is implemented by the software, i.e. the computer program, in each of the computers which puts its respective modem in a listening mode to monitor the phone line at all times. The computer is further programmed and includes a memory for storing and transmitting graphics presently on hand to other user(s) via the modem during a teleconference or alternatively receive graphics from another user, or it can switch to an external graphics program to make new or modify existing graphic images.

Abstract: An emergency warning device comprises an alarm signal circuitry incorporated in the telephone lines of various telephone systems such as an existing party-line telephone system, or interphone system and it is adapted to issue an alarm call in case of emergency. The control circuitry provides a warning message of a state of emergency affairs that can be given to a user by a party-line telephone or the like in case of emergency.

Abstract: A novel alarm system tester is disclosed for use in verifying the operation of subscriber stations in an alarm system of a type having a central monitoring station and a plurality of subscriber stations operative to automatically dial the telephone number of the central monitoring station and to report the occurrence of an alarm event to the central monitoring station. The tester in accordance with the present invention permits the verification of the automatic dialing function of the subscriber station and additionally, provides for verification that the subscriber station can transmit messages to the central monitoring station in accordance with a defined communication protocol. The entire test sequence is completed in a single telephone communication.

Abstract: A modem which can detect an incoming call and provide an indication of the incoming call to a host computer while the power to the modem is turned off, comprising a switchable power supply that can be turned on and off by a remote input from the host computer, a ring detector circuit that monitors for incoming calls and notifies the host computer through an open drain output without using power from the computer, and isolator circuits that provide isolation on all the input/output lines between the modem and the computer to prevent power leakage from the computer's power source when the switchable power supply is turned off.

Abstract: A terminal provides for ordering merchandise from any one of a plurality of merchants over the direct distance dial telephone network while remaining at home. Printed merchandise codes are electronically read by a wand of a bar code reader that is passed thereacross, automating data entry. Separate or integral memory cartridges carry a set of recognition data for each merchant order receiving device, the recognition data being required to validate the entry of an order in an order receiving device. A liquid crystal character display, indicator lights and user actuated switches provided for guiding a user through the ordering sequence for each merchant.

Abstract: An integrated communication system (e.g., BIGFON) includes the narrow-band telephone network and a superposed video-telephone network. The path search for setting up calls in the telephone network is carried out with the aid of the telephone call numbers. To permit a video-telephone network structure independent of the structure of the telephone network, each subscriber of the video-telephone network must be assigned a separate video-telephone call number for the path search in the broadband network. In order that a subscriber does not have to dial two different numbers to set up a video-telephone call, each exchange (V1, V2) of the communication system includes a mapping circuit (ZS) which establishes for each video-telephone subscriber (TEA, TEB) a correspondence between his or her telephone call number and a video-telephone call number serving to set up calls in the video-telephone network. This video-telephone call number can be called up from the mapping circuit (ZS) via the telephone network (FN).

Abstract: An improved apparatus for rapidly compressing, expanding, and displaying broad band information which is transmitted over a narrow band communications channel. In the preferred embodiment, a video image is cyclically assembled in low resolution and high resolution phases from digitized data representing gray level intensity for individual pixels which have been grouped into pixel. During the initial cycle of the low resolution phase, a representative sample of cell intensity values is transmitted by a sending station to a receiving station according to a video compression routine. The receiving station then uses a video expansion routine to calculate an intensity value for those pixels whose intensity values were not transmitted and displays an initial image. This image is refined during subsequent low-resolution cycles by additional transmissions from the sending station which replace the calculated cell intensity values with an actual or better approximation value for that pixel.

Abstract: An electronic conference system for a remote conference among a plurality of stations, each of the stations comprising an absolute number providing element, for assigning absolute number to an input picture data, an absolute number transmission element for transmitting the absolute number to another station, and a picture data transmitting element for transmitting the picture data only when the other station does not store the number equal to the absolute number, whereby, the same picture data are supervised or coordinated by the same absolute number.

Abstract: A method for polling headphones of a passive tv audience meter system. Tv audience members wear headphones by which they may receive the audio portion of the tv programs. The headphones are enabled to receive the audio for a short time by periodic polls transmitted by a tv audience meter. The headphones in turn acknowledge to the polls to indicate to the meter which members of the audience are watching tv. The method uses short and long period polls in conjunction with a timer whose period is shorter than the long period poll. The long period poll permits activation of headphone but also prevents adequate audio reception until the headphone acknowledges the poll. The short period poll is entered in response to the receipt of an acknowledgement and permits uninterrupted audio.

Abstract: A communication terminal for processing voice and graphical information having a telephone set including a handset supported by a housing with an input device mounted within the housing for establishing communication with a distant terminal. The input device includes a flat display screen having a presentation portion and a switching field portion. A transparent resistive coating which conducts electrical signals and which is mounted over the presentation portion is manually contacted by a pen which extracts a signal for identifying the point of contact. The pen is used to touch the portion of the screen representing a dial keypad and various switching functions. The extracted signals are digitized and transmitted to distant terminals via a control circuit which processes both voice and graphical information.

Abstract: A processor-assisted system helps persons with speech or hearing handicaps communicate with any telephone caller having an ordinary tone generating telephone. With minimal training, the caller can communicate with the handicapped person using a one key per letter technique for spelling out words. Received keypad sequences are decoded by the processor and the decoded message is presented on a video display or monitor. Since there are three alphabetic letters on most of the keys of a tone generating telephone, the decoding process must take into account that more than one word might have been intended by a particular keypad sequence. The decoding process retrieves all possible words and allows the handicapped person to choose the appropriate word from the context of the sentence. According to one decoding process, all words which might be represented by a particular key sequence are stored in records including the keypad sequence.

Abstract: High-speed bipolar signals transmitted along standard twisted pair telephone wiring are subject to InterSymbol Interference which is corrected by an equalizer circuit that is operably responsive to predetermined parameters of bipolar signals detected at the secondary of a line transformer. These parameters are input to a control logic circuit which includes several stages, each producing a set of past dependent logical control signals which are input to corresponding equalizer tap circuits having outputs connected to a common output bus. Each tap circuit includes an integrator that is incrementally charged and discharged by an electronically switched capacitor. A tap weight voltage output from each integrator is subsequently summed directly or inversely by a second switched capacitor under control of the logical input signals.

Abstract: A system for videoconferencing saves travel time and money. To enable participants to see each other continually and simultaneously, and to show documents and objects, equipment is needed, the costs of which vary with the number of locations to be interconnected, and with measures taken for reducing the needed transmission capacity and the outfit of each terminal. As in known videoconference systems, such as studio, or working place systems, the video and audio signals are switched and/or mixed in the inventive system. The necessary equipment, however, is no longer needed at the respective locations, if a central station for videoconferencing is provided which includes this equipment only in a volume actually necessary for the conference. Each of the connected participant locations only comprises terminal units, the same which are needed for a picture telephone system. In addition, both the video and the audio reception can individually be controlled from each location.

Abstract: A conventional Touch-Tone telephone instrument is rendered functional in the same manner and to the same extent as a computer terminal having alpha-numeric capability, as regards transmission of queries directed to computerized data bases. It is also rendered functional as a recipient of information transmitted from the data base through a telephone network to provide intelligence heretofore made available only on the video screen of the computer terminal, or through automatic printers. Disclosed is the substitution of the instrument for a computer terminal and its associated video screen or teleprinter, without requirement of modification of the instrument, so that a subscriber gains from the use of the telephone functions heretofore obtainable only by providing oneself with a computer terminal and its associated screen and/or automatic printer. The user spells out one or more words by depressing the conventional, alpha-numerically marked keys of a Touch-Tone telephone instrument.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for testing the effectiveness of a television commercial before it is broadcast. The commercial is displayed to a test subject in a realistic setting which includes a choice of programs from which he can select. The reactions of the test subject in selecting from among the various programs and commercials available to him are monitored and analyzed.

Abstract: A controlled access automated-switching conferencing system includes a special microprocessor-controlled control console disposed at each of a plurality of stations. Each station includes video and audio inputs and outputs. Central automatic video and audio switching devices switch the video and audio inputs so that they may be connected to any one or more of the video and audio outputs, and switch the audio outputs so that they may be connected to one or more audio inputs. A central novel system controller controls the automatic switchers in response to selections of function and station selection members associated with any of the control consoles. An interface is associated with each station for operatively interconnecting the station control console, inputs, and outputs with the system controller, and a central line driver interfaces the system controller with the interface structure.

Abstract: A robbery-repelling alarm system includes a shouting alarm which will produce a human warning speech prerecorded in a first cassette tape for efficiently repelling intruders; a car lock which will be actuated by intruder to ground the current of the engine ignition coil to prevent the car starting; and a telephone dialing alarm including both a pulse dialer and a prerecorded message alarm operated by a second cassette tape for easier operation and minor cost.

Abstract: A transactional system serves subscribers in a plurality of localities, and includes a national data base having a plurality of groups of addressed segments of data storage. Each group stores data pertaining to an associated locality, and each group is addressed by a locality number. There are provided a plurality of access-number addressed segments of data storage, and a device for linking the access-number addressed segments of data storage to the groups of locality-number addressed segments of data storage. At least one locality includes a plurality of sublocalities, and each locality number has a predetermined number of digits signifying the respective locality, and at least one additional digit for identifying the sub-locality; the latter may identify the zip code number. The groups of addressed segments of data storage preferably include classified ad sections.

Abstract: A people monitoring system comprises a first unit (32) which receives data related to the number of people who are watching a television set, the unit being provided with switches (30) operable by such people to produce such data; and a second unit (33), remote from the first unit, which accepts and stores such data.

Abstract: In an apparatus comprising a combination of transmission means and storage means, the transmission means comprises (a) means for accepting data from people monitoring means which produces information relating to the number of people watching a television set and/or television channel detection means of a television viewing monitoring system; and (b) means for transmitting such data to the storage means, the storage means comprising a semiconductor data module (110) which is removable from the apparatus.