Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the broadcast signal source for the signal being displayed by a video wave receiver, whether tuned by the monitored receiver or an associated tuner device, such as a cable converter or video cassette recorder. The monitoring system includes a probe for detecting a horizontal sweep signal of the monitored receiver. The frequency of the detected horizontal sweep signal is determined and compared to stored characteristic frequency values corresponding to the predetermined channels to which the video receiver may be tuned.

Abstract: A device for reading and transmitting the electrical energy consumption by a user through his telephone line, at predetermined time intervals. Current and voltage sensors provide an analog output that is converted to a digital output and transmitted to a general purpose computer where the necessary energy computations are made. The data is then sent to the central office through an automatic modem at a preselected time when the lines are not congested.

Abstract: A facsimile machine including an automatic dialer requiring no dial operation when calling up a specific addressee particularly an addressee requiring frequent communication, allows simplified transmission of the addressee's dial signal to the service line by using "one-touch" key operation, thus achieving an extremely simplified procedure for transmitting written messages therethrough. The automatic dialer is provided with a memory storing dial data of such a specific addressee requiring frequent communications. In response to the operation of a specific instruction key on the operation panel, the automatic dialer reads dial data from memory before delivery to the dial pulse generator circuit, which then outputs the dial pulses to the service line to activate transmission of a message through a telecopier such as a facsimile.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing remote answering of a doorbell includes a circuit for receiving a doorbell signal indicative that a doorbell switch has been actuated. An autodialing circuit is coupled to and responsive to the receiving circuit and a telephone line for dialing a telephone number responsive to the doorbell signal. An alerting circuit generates an alert signal to be transmitted over the telephone line to the telephone number dialed by the autodialing circuit, so that the alert signal may alert a party answering the remote telephone to the fact that the party is responding to a doorbell rather than a normal telephone call. An audio speaker is physically situated near the doorbell switch, for reproducing audio signals from the telephone line which are generated at the remote telephone.

Abstract: Two-way telephone communication is established between a subscriber-dwelling and a remote station using the automatic dialer of existing security apparatus. A speaker and a microphone are placed in the dwelling. A diplexer electrically coupled to the automatic dialer and responsive to a tone of a given frequency, operates a switch which selectively applies either the microphone or the speaker to the audio circuitry of the dialer. When the dialer is triggered, the switch couples the microphone to the audio circuitry of the dialer whereby sounds in the dwelling are communicated to the remote station. When an employee at the remote station applies the tone to the link, the diplexer causes the switch electrically to isolate the microphone and couple the speaker to the dialer whereby the employee of the station can communicate with the dwelling. Alternate operation of either the speaker or microphone prevents accoustical feedback between the two.

Abstract: A personal computer connected to a display and touch screen panel is provided with a form entry system integrated therewith. The form entry system is adapted to display a predefined form and to automatically display a predefined tool, such as a keyboard, menu, calculator, etc., to facilitate inputting information in a respective field of the form or chart. Specifically, the user is prompted as to which field is to be filled in by highlighting the field and concurrently displaying as an overlay (window) the tool that the user will use to input the information called for by the highlighted field. In the case where a field calls for illustratively the insertion of a name, the system may be adapted to display a menu of names as the tool for filling in that field. The user selects the name that he or she desired to be inserted in the field by touching that name. The system responsive thereto inserts the name in that field, highlights the next field to be filled in and displays the tool for filling that field.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for providing a nationwide dial-a-view service in which a caller desiring a given viewing selection dials an "800" dial-a-view number for ordering that selection through the telephone networking arrangement. The arrangement includes local and toll switching offices for accessing a centralized database system for providing routing instructions advantageously to network services equipment which acknowledges the request and processes the request to cable television distribution equipment. The dialed "800" number is recognized as a dial-a-view request, and the database system provides the originating toll office with routing instructions for sending the request to the network service equipment. Automatic number identification of the caller is requested from the originating toll office and forwarded along with requested programming to the vendor equipment.

Abstract: A method using a programmed data processor to operate a cable television system wherein a subscriber can select video information to be displayed on a common channel of the television monitors of all subscribers. The subscriber accesses the data processor by use of a touch tone telephone and selects video information to be broadcast by inputting a digital code using his touch tone telephone. The data processor processes the signal generated, retrieves the video information from memory and places it on queue to be broadcast.

Abstract: A personal alarm system is disclosed which incorporates a speakerphone so as to permit substantially handsfree operation and remote activation. The system includes a speakerphone which interfaces to a subscriber station. The subscriber station in turn interfaces over a communications link to a central monitoring station which is operative to receive and analyze messages transmitted to the central monitoring station by the subscriber station. Following transmission of a message from the subscriber station to the central monitoring station, the central monitoring station may transmit a control signal to the subscriber station which causes the subscriber station to activate the speakerphone to permit verbal communication with a subscriber who may be immobilized and/or physically unable to initiate a telephone call or answer a telephone.

Abstract: Wideband digital signals, such as video program signals, are distributed to multiple customer locations by providing the wideband digital signals to all customer line interface units in an intermediate selection terminal which is remote from a central wideband signal distribution office. The individual signals are made available to all line interface circuits by way of nonreflectively terminated transmission lines and high-input-impedance signal tapping circuits. Control signals from customer terminals are used at the corresponding line interface circuit to control digital selection of channels for customer use, any number of customers being able to select simultaneously a common one of said transmission lines. Other control signals from the central office are used to limit customer access to all wideband signals.

Abstract: A facsimile communication system incorporates a plurality of terminal equipments, each comprising a keyboard capable of character data input operation and a facsimile equipment which operates in accordance with commands given thereto through the keyboard, and a host computer connected through telephone lines to the terminal equipments. The facsimile communication system includes equipment for transmitting or receiving character data through steps for converting the character data into character codes, equipment for transmitting or receiving picture data through steps for converting the picture data into picture codes, equipment for discriminating the converted picture codes or the converted character codes from each other, and equipment for recording received character data and picture data integrally on a recording sheet.

Abstract: A key telephone system includes a plurality of key telephone sets having speakers and tone signal generators and communicating with each other through extension links. The key telephone system further includes a first memory, a second memory, a main CPU, a sub CPU, an MF signal generator, and a speech path switch. The first memory stores availability of the extension links. The main CPU discriminates whether all extension links are available according to the storage contents of the first memory in an extension call mode. The MF signal generator signals to a calling key telephone set that all the extension links are busy when the main CPU discriminates that all the extension links are busy. A second memory stores information on each calling and called key telephone set if the extension call is in a state where the MF signal generator signals that all the extension links are busy.

Abstract: A communication system offering specific services to specific persons bears a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of the memory device puts it on a communication terminal device and the terminal device reads out the personal information, which is transferred to a data processor such as a central processor in the exchange so that a service specific to the calling person is rendered.

Abstract: A still picture transmission apparatus in which still picture data is transmitted in packet form from a central terminal having a picture data bank selectively to a plurality of local terminals through a common transmission line at which a plurality of distinct logic channels are established, wherein a packet transmission is conducted in such a manner that a command designating a channel number is transmitted to a desired local terminal to which channel the local terminal is to be connected, and still picture data is transmitted with the use of the packet having said channel number.

Abstract: An IPPV technique is provided for a cable system having one-way addressable converters. Each of several central offices in a metropolitan area will provide ANI information representing the cable subscriber's phone number and a code representing the cable event to be viewed or cancelled. The data is sent asynchronously to a respective telephone communication unit located at the central office. This telephone communication unit (TCU) does some buffering, eliminates unnecessary data, and sends data synchronously to a telepone communication controller (TCC) located at the cable headend station. The TCC will acknowledge the data. There will be several TCCs located at the cable headend station corresponding to the several central offices who may give telephone service to the cable operator's subscribers. All of these TCCs at the headend station are coupled through a multiplexer to a system controller. Each TCC provides intermediate processing which converts the subscriber's telephone number into binary.

Abstract: In a TV answer back system where many receiver stations communicate with a TV transmitter station by means of rf pulses generated by rf oscillators at the receiver station, the requirement for keeping all oscillators on frequency is achieved without crystal temperature control by automatically controlling the rf oscillator frequency using synchronization signals carried in the video signal received from the TV studio. By this invention it has been possible to control the frequency of multiple megahertz oscillator as accurately as desired from relatively low frequency synchronizing signals such as the vertical and horizontal video sync pulses. Thus an oscillations counter is gated for a very accurate time period by the sync pulses, and the oscillation count is compared with a datum count representing the desired oscillation frequency.

Abstract: A telecommunication method and apparatus for the deaf and hearing impaired uses the discrete dual frequency tones produced by each button on a telephone key pad to represent one of three letters inscribed on each key. Apparatus at the deaf person's receiving telephone assembles the sequences of number values identifying each letter group containing each letter in a transmitted word. Comparison apparatus within the receiving apparatus, preferably controlled by a microprocessor, compares the sequences of letter groups with allowed sequences of letter groups corresponding to pre-determined words stored within an electronic dictionary memory within the apparatus. When a perfect match has been obtained, the word interpreted from each triply ambiguous letter group corresponding to each transmitted letter is displaying visually on a CRT for the deaf person. Under microprocessor control, this procedure takes a fraction of a second per word lookup.

Abstract: A system for controlling a cable television network includes a head end, a plurality of addressable external control units having subscriber converters located off the subscriber's premises, and one or more subscriber devices located on the subscriber premises for communicating with associated external control units. The head end can selectively and rapidly poll the external control units for information on a general or on a priority basis. Information is transmitted to the head end from the external control units on any of a plurality of reverse communication channels under control of the head end. External control units use a two-part polling scheme to poll a plurality of associated drop cables, and individual subscriber devices attached to the drop cables. The polling rapidly identifies subscriber devices desiring to communicate with the external control unit.

Abstract: A remote control system for a set of machines (1) for franking mail, which machines are geographically dispersed in accordance with user requirements and include franking heads whose use is monitored by a distant central organization. Each franking head is connected to a local concentrator station (4) via a data transmission link (11), and each local station is in turn connected via a telephone channel (3) to a central remote monitoring station (2) belonging the central organization. Each local station monitors the machines connected thereto and collects operating information supplied by their heads, and it interchanges data with the central station in differed time.

Abstract: System for collecting data, relating to the showing of specific video information registered together with a core signal onto a registration carrier. The carrier is forwarded by the information supplier to one of a number of display stations comprising each at least a video display apparatus for displaying the registered video information and comprising a processor for detecting said code signal and deriving therefrom data about the starting time and the period during which said video information is displayed. This data is stored into a memory and the contents of the memory is at regular intervals read out by the information supplier using a reader station.