Abstract: A telephone set adapted for use by hearing impaired and visually impaired persons is disclosed in which the frequency response of audio signals produced from the handset receiver of the telephone is shaped to have enhanced high-frequency characteristics. The telephone is further provided with indicator lights which flash in conjunction with the telephone's electronic ringer to indicate an incoming telephone call. An array of light-emitting diodes is disposed beneath a dialer keypad to facilitate viewing of the dialing buttons in darkened environments. The dialer keypad's buttons are of an enlarged size, so that they may be more easily used by persons with impaired vison or motor skills.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto a voice signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, or time-multiplexed with a television. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes, at each remote receiving station, a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing desired responses, and a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory. Also provided is electronic circuitry for scoring the responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at each of the remote receiving stations.

Abstract: A telephone communication apparatus for receiving data from a telephone network in either of two modes, i.e., an acoustic mode and an electromagnetic mode, and for automatically selecting the particular mode that provides fewer data errors.

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: A TV still frame image, perhaps with an accompanying audio segment, information retrieval system is disclosed. The system allows end users to search for, order, and retrieve still frame video images, which images are then displayed on a conventional television set. Related audio sound can be heard over the same television set, over a telephone, or over another audio device. A data base of images and sound is stored on storage devices that are controlled by a general purpose computer system. This data base is located at the "head end" of the system. In one mode of operation, an end user requests and receives a particular video image(s), and perhaps a sound segment(s), from a plurality of such images that are continuously being sent to all end users. In a second mode of operation an end user requests a data base image that is not presently being sent to all end users.

Abstract: If a call waiting signal is supplied to a telephone line during reception of a videotex information through a videotex center, a control unit responds to the calling signal to actuate call waiting equipment and an associated switching unit for transmitting the calling signal to a videotex line and displaying an alarm signal at the videotex receiver. When the user of the videotex changes over the switches of the switch box and places his telephone receiver off-hook, he can communicate with the incoming calling party.

Abstract: Delivery of binary encoded character data and facsimile encoded data to a specified recipient is controlled rapidly, simply, and with versatility, by, e.g., DTMF commands sent by a user.

Abstract: A closed circuit interactive television system (10) provides a multichannel television signal from a localized head end (12) which is used for individualized interactive selections by a plurality of users (22, 24, 26). Each user station contains a conventional televison receiver (32a, 32b, 32c) and a smart box or interface and selection device (30a, 30b, 30c). The smart box or interface and selection device (30) is disposed between the television receiver (32) and the RF distribution amplifier (36). The number of user stations (22, 24, 26) on the system (10) is virtually unlimited.

Abstract: The period for which advertisements are displayed on display screens is monitored by coupling the displaying time with the time of a telephone call from a public telephone booth near the display panel. Preferably, the call made from this booth is paid with a pre-payment memory card. This memory card also has a memorizing zone in which it is possible to record an advertisement which is precisely the advertisement to be displayed.

Abstract: A wideband video system transmits and receives video signals through a ground line of a power distribution network. This single line transmission path is not susceptable to noise signals as is a dual line transmission path. The single line transmission path is grounded in the transmitter by a cable from an incoming source and also grounded in the receivers by respective monitors. Between the incoming source and the monitors, a single communication line carries single ended wide band video signals respecting floating grounds through the transmitter, the ground line and the receivers. This single line transmission is less susceptible to noise on the power lines thereby enabling the transmission of up to 500 mHz signals suitable for video transmission over a wide frequency band.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which may be used for collecting television channel tuning data, household purchase data, VCR channel usage data and the like; on site at a plurality of preselected households, wherein the system concentrates and transmits the collected data to a central site in a fault tolerant manner, transparent to the occupants of the household. The novel system features a hub and spoke architecture for effecting communications between the central site and each household (remote site). The hub and spoke architecture at each remote site comprises a hub unit, and a set of spoke meters. The hub unit is adapted to be coupled, in a variety of ways, to a set of metering devices, one or more of which is coupled to one or more television receivers and/or cable television converters. Not all of the metering devices need be coupled to the television receiver or cable converter, e.g., stand alone purchase meters and wands may be coupled to the hub. The meters may be polled systematically, e.g.

Abstract: A data transmission system is described which includes a switching circuit that enables the connection of a tributary modem to a control modem via the public switched network. Switching occurs when it is no longer possible to transmit data on the leased network because the line connected to the tributary modem has failed. The switching circuit can connect either the permanent leased line or the switched network to the receiver of the control modem. It comprises a narrow pass-band filter and detector which is permanently connected between the reception side of the switched network and the control modem receiver. When the tributary modem answers a call from the control modem, it sends a tone ahead of the data message, the frequency of which tone corresponds to the frequency of the pass-band filter and is out of the data band.

Abstract: One version of a microprocessor based auto dialer for a PPV television system includes an IR receiver for receiving impulse "buy" decisions, in the form of one or more key pad entries from a portable IR transmitter, and a number generator for adding the appropriate digits to a partial ANI telephone number stored in memory. In another version, the auto dialer is connected to the serial port of a PM type CATV decoder and a PPV identifier and telephone number may be downloaded to the ANI auto dialer to eliminate the permanent storage of the telephone number and to simplify subscriber interaction. The auto dialer dials the telephone number of the cable head end. Further embodiments include carrier current interfaces between the IR receiver/detector and the auto dialer, and between the decoder and the auto dialer.

Abstract: The invention networks a conventional and unmodified television receiver, television monitor, stereo amplifier, VCR's, video disc player, etc. and communicates via telephone lines with any remote central computer. The viewer provides channel selection commands or other programming commands to a microprocessor through an infrared channel selection unit. A motion detector detects entry or exit of viewers from the viewing location to monitor viewing behavior during a program. The microprocessor interactively communicates with the viewer through speech input and output modules and alphanumeric displays which are combined with the video signal and displayed on the television or monitor screen. A VCR tuner and TV tuner within the system provide audio and video signals for the conventional television monitor or television receiver. An AM and FM radio tuner may also be included. Each tuner is tunable by the microprocessor.

Abstract: A power source control system is disclosed for a data terminal which is connected to a communication line through a modem and a network control unit. A power source control unit is provided between the modem and the data terminal while interface between the modem and the data terminal is maintained so that when an incoming call to the data terminal is received and detected, a line establishing procedure is immediately executed with resepct to the calling party in place of the data terminal, and a main power source of the data terminal is turned ON, making the data terminal ready for a communication operation.

Abstract: A data collecting apparatus is used in a survey system in which research data such as television audience ratings and market research data is collected by a data collecting device provided in each of a plurality of panelists' homes, the collected research data is sent to a data center through telephone links, and, at the data center, the data is processed with the aid of a large scale computer to calculate desired research data. The data collecting apparatus includes a channel detector for detecting a television channel being viewed, a market research data entry device, a personal data entry device, and a data processing device for storing and processing the entered data. The detected channel data and the entered personal data are transferred to the data processing device via domestic power supply lines. The market research data is efficiently entered with the aid of a bar-code reader and a keyboard in a sequence-non-ordered manner. The personal data is entered with an entry device using infrared light.

Abstract: A device for mounting a telecommunictions device for the deaf ("TDD") to a pay telephone booth which provides an enclosure for storing the TDD when not in use, and a mechanism for attaching the TDD to the booth so that it can be moved between a position where it is contained within the enclosure to a position where the handset of the telephone may be received in the handset cradle of the TDD to provide access to public telephone to the deaf and hearing impaired.

Abstract: A system for connecting a plurality of computers and computer peripherals into a network using two unshielded lines of the type included in a telephone cable. A floating ground isolation circuit is used to aid suppression of non-zero static voltages and voltage surges.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for forwarding a customer order received from a requesting customer line to a vendor data link. For use with a telecommunications switching system, the order entry arrangement includes a customer signal receiver for receiving customer signals from a requesting customer line and a processor for sending the orders received from the receiver to the vendor data link. The processor normally controls the operation of the switching network of the switching system but also sends received customer orders and the identity of the requesting line to a vendor data link in response to a customer entered order entry request code. Optional vendor identification information may be entered by the customer for selecting a desired vendor. Customer identification information may also be entered by the customer for billing and order security purposes. After the order is received, the order entry arrangement returns an order confirmation signal to the requesting line.

Abstract: An electronic device for generating an activation signal in response to detection of an acoustic signal having parameters within respective predetermined ranges, and then automatically dialing a prestored telephone number and transmitting a prerecorded message over the telephone line in response to the activation signal. The device includes a transducer for transducing an acoustic signal into an electrical signal; a detector for outputting an activation signal in response to detection of an acoustic signal having parameters within respective predetermined ranges; and a telephone module for automatically dialing a prestored number and transmitting a prerecorded message in response to the activation signal. The detected parameters include the amplitude of the acoustic signal, the frequency of the acoustic signal, the duration of each burst of the acoustic signal, and the duration of each interval between successive bursts of the acoustic signal.