u:-.
`
`X73?
`
`"994-3494.785;
`
`United States Patent
`Furukawa et al.
`
`1191
`
`[111
`
`[45]
`
`4,439,784
`
`Mar. 27, 1984
`
`[54] POWER CUTTING DEVICE FOR TERMINAL
`UNITS OF CATV SYSTEM
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Hajime Furukawa;Yoshitsugu Ohta,
`both of Tokyo, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Pioneer Electronic Corporation,
`Tokyo, Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 191,206
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 26, 1980
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Sep. 26, 1979 [JP]
`Japan .............................. .. 54-123549
`
`Int. Cl.3 .................................. .. H04N 7/18
`[51]
`[52] U.s. Cl. .................................... .. 358/86; 358/190;
`455/4; 455/5; 340/825.07; 340/310 A
`[58] Field of Search ............... .. 358/86, 153, 190, 194,
`358/210; 455/4, 5; 361/81; 340/825.07, 310 A
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`358/86
`3,993,955 11/1976 Belcher et al.
`358/114
`4,118,669 10/1978 Fung ........... ..
`.......... 455/4
`4,142,156 2/1979 Freund ..
`4,367,455
`1/1983 Fried ................................. .. 340/310
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`696745
`2039402
`
`9/1953 United Kingdom
`8/1980 United Kingdom
`
`Primary Exam1'ner—John C. Martin
`Assistant Examiner——Edward L. Coles
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sughrue, Mion, Zi_nn,
`Macpeak & Seas
`
`ABSTRACI‘
`[57]
`In a CATV system, power supplies of television sets
`associated with all terminal units are cut in response to
`an instruction contained in a down-data signal supplied
`by a central facility of the system. It is possible to cut
`the power supplies of the television sets, selectively and
`periodically, by incorporating address informations in
`the down-data signal.
`
`3,761,914 9/1973 Hardy et al. ........................ .. 358/86
`
`3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures
`
` IF.MOD 27
`
`28
`
`1)
`
`
`
`30
`
`DATA
`TRANSM I T
`
`DATA
`ANLYZER
`
`DATA
`RECEIVER
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page 1
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`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 1 of9
`
`4,439,784
`
`F I G.
`
`I
`
`/12
`
`
`
`—
`
`3 @}fi_L@n
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 2 of9
`
`4,439,784
`
`9
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`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
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`
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`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`US. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
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`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 5
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 5 of9
`
`4,439,784
`
`
`
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page
`
`LAMP
`QRCWT
`
`
`
`TRANSMiTTER-
`RECEIVER
`
`KEY ENCODER
`
`
` CHANNELBUTTON
`RESPONSEBUTTON
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 6
`
`

`
`US. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 6 of9
`
`4,439,784
`
`i
`/
`
`52
`% (45)
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`A le v. PM
`IPR
`6-0075
`
`Page
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
`
`4,439,784
`
`FIG. 5
`
`HOW TO USE TH|S CATV SYSTEM
`
`This TV set can be operated
`
`as follows: First, switch
`
`LIST OF TODAY'S PROGRAMS
`
`1 2
`
`.
`
`3.
`4.
`
`5.
`
`FIG. 6
`
`ATTENTION
`
`Programs are chargeable and
`each channel has its own fee
`
`per one time use.
`
`1. 1,000 yen
`2.
`500 yen
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`500 yen
`
`300 yen
`
`5. 800 yen
`6. 700 yen
`
`'7. 600 yen
`
`Procedure for
`
`receiving
`
`programs is as follows.
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 8 of9
`
`4,439,784
`
`FI G. 7
`
`FIG. 6
`
`F I R E !
`
`
`
`_
`8 th Floor
`Evacuate right away.
`
`—Manager-
`
`;._Tourist Party
`
`- Leader -
`
`Tomorrow Departure 8:00 A.M.
`
`Please push button (1) when
`acknowledged.
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
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`Page
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
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`

`
`US. Patent Mar. 27, 1984
`
`Sheet 9 of9
`
`4,439,784
`
`FIG. 9
`
`INTRODUCTION OF Bl-DIRECTIONAL
`
`CATV SYSTEM
`
`1. Date: Sept. 27, 1979
`10:30 - 11:30 A.M.
`
`2. Place: First Meeting Room
`
`All managers should attend.
`
`For confirmation, push button 1.
`
`- General Management —
`
`FIG. 70
`
`Which stereo design is better
`
`between those presented up to
`now.
`
`Push a button of your choice.
`1. Vertical stereo
`2. Horizontal stereo
`
`3. Neither one
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page 1
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`IPR2016-00753
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`

`
`1
`
`4,439,784
`
`2
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`POWER CUTTING DEVICE FOR TERMINAL
`UNITS OF CATV SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`The present invention relates to a community antenna
`television (CATV) system and, in particular, to a power
`cutting device for use in connection with terminal units
`of the CATV system, which is capable of positively
`cutting the power source of all of the associated televi-
`sion sets according to a down-data signal supplied
`thereto by a central facility of the system. It is known
`that CATV systems are an extremely advantageous
`communication system which is capable of sending
`television programs on a plurality of channels through a
`cable and can accommodate bidirectional simultaneous
`communications. In such systems, each television set
`associated with a terminal unit is operated individually
`to receive desired programs. The terminal unit controls
`the associated television set.
`
`Occasionally users of of television sets leave them in
`the on-state even after the programs are over. Also, it
`occurs that persons who are not permitted to use the
`television sets operate them. These are disadvantageous
`in View of the desire to save energy and operating costs
`and also reduces the lifetime of the television set. Since
`the switching-off of the power source for individual
`television sets is performed at the terminals rather than
`at the central facility, it is impossible to resolve the
`above problems.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In view of the foregoing, an object of the present
`invention is to provide a power cutting device for the
`terminal units in the CATV system, which can switch
`off positively and forcibly the power source connection
`in the television sets associated with the terminal units
`by sending a down-data signal containing a power
`source cutting instruction from the central facility of
`the system to the terminal units to thereby remotely
`control the television sets.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a CATV
`system which is provided in a hotel according to one
`example of a method of receiving particular channels in
`a CATV system according to the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a broad block diagram showing the CATV
`system;
`FIGS. 3A to 3C are detailed block diagrams showing
`a terminal unit in the CATV system in detail;
`FIG. 4 is a plan View of a control unit in the terminal
`unit;
`FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an exam-
`ple of a display which indicates a procedure for using
`the CATV system;
`FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a pattern which
`is displayed through a procedure channel when a
`chargeable program is selected;
`FIGS. 7 and 8 are also explanatory diagrams of pat-
`terns which are displayed through a spot channel which
`is forced to be received by television sets in the CATV
`system; and
`FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams of patterns which are
`displayed on the television sets when a special channel
`is selected.
`
`A preferred embodiment of the invention will be
`described with reference to the accompanying draw-
`ings. In the embodiment described, a terminal unit in-
`cluding a television set is located, for example, in each
`of the guest rooms in a hotel so that the guests can
`observe various programs on the television sets. Two-
`way communications can be carried out between the
`television sets and a central facility provided in the
`hotel.
`FIG. 1 shows the interior of a hotel schematically. A
`television set 3 forming a part of a terminal unit is pro-
`vided in each guest room 2 in the hotel 1. The television
`sets 3 are connected through a cable 5 to a central facil-
`ity 4, hereinafter referred to merely as “a center” when
`applicable. The hotel 1 has a computer room 6. A com-
`puter 7 in the computer room 6 is connected through a
`data cable 8 to the center 4. A display unit 10 is pro-
`vided at the front 9 of the hotel and is connected
`through a data cable 11 to the computer 7. An antenna
`12 is installed on the roof of the hotel for receiving
`commercial television broadcast signals and it is con-
`nected to the center 4.
`In this system, the guests in the rooms 2 of the hotel
`1 can see and hear television programs by operating the
`television sets 3. Television broadcast signals received
`by the antenna 12 are retransmitted through the cable 5
`to the television sets 3 and, in addition, programs which
`are provided independently in the center 4 are also
`transmitted to the television sets 3. If any one of the
`television sets 3 is operated, its condition of use is trans-
`mitted through the cable 5 to the center 4. The time of
`use and the channel in use are communicated through
`the data cable 8 to the computer 7 and are stored therein
`The times of use are summed by the computer 7 so that,
`when the guest checks out, he is charged for the usage
`0 which is displayed on the display unit 10 at the cashier’s
`station 9. Sometimes, special programs are provided for
`television channels. In the case where such television
`channels are used by a guest, the periods of the televi-
`sion channels are summed so that the guest is addition-
`ally charged for the special programs when he checks
`out of the hotel.
`FIG. 2 shows in more detail the two-way data com-
`munication network in the embodiment in FIG. 1. The
`center 4 has a source group 20 including a demodulator
`21, a video disc player 22, a video tape player 23, and a
`studio 24. The antenna 12 is connected to the demodula-
`tor 21. The center 4 further has a demodulation output
`section 25 including an IF modulator circuit and an
`up-converter circuit 27. The output of the up-converter
`circuit 27 is connected to the cable 5. The cable 5 is
`connected to a data transmitter 28 and a data receiver 29
`which is connected to a data analyzer 30. A part of the
`output of the data analyzer 30 is applied, as an instruc-
`tion signal, to the data transmitter 28 while the other
`part of the output is applied through the data cable to
`the computer 7. The computer 7 is connected to the
`display unit 10 such as a printer display. Branching units
`31 are provided at predetermined points on the cable 5
`and branch cables 32 extend from each branching unit
`31 to the respective guest rooms 2 in the hotel. A termi-
`nal unit 35 is composed of a television set 3, a main unit
`33 and a control unit 34. The branch cables 32 are con-
`nected to the main unit 33 in each guest room 2.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
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`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
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`Page 11
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`

`
`4,439,784
`
`3
`The circuit of the terminal unit 35 is as shown in FIG.
`3A. The main unit 33 includes a series circuit of a
`branching filter 36, a filter 37, a channel converter 38
`and a filter 39. The branching filter 36 is connected to
`the branch cable 32. The output terminal of the filter 39
`is connected to the television set 3. The branching filter
`36 is further connected to a down-data receiver 40 and
`an up-data transniitter 41 both of which are connected
`to a communication control circuit 42.
`The communication control circuit 42 includes a
`serial-parallel converter 42-1, as shown in FIG. 3B,
`which receives a serially coded down-data g from the
`down-data receiver 40 and converts it into a parallel
`coded signal. The parallel signal obtained by the con-
`verter 42-1 is stored in a memory 42-2. The memory
`42-2 further contains address codes corresponding to
`the respective hotel rooms. At the time of polling, an
`address signal provided by the center 4 is compared
`with the address stored in the memory 42-2 and when
`there is a coincidence therebetween, a response is pro-
`vided to the center 4.
`An output of the memory 42-2 is connected to an
`instruction signal decoder 42-3 which functions to de-
`modulate the instruction signal etc. supplied by the
`center 4 and stored in the memory 42-2. In a case where
`an instruction of spot channel from the center 4, the
`decoder 42-3 functions to send a control signal k corre-
`sponding to the spot channel to the tuning voltage gen-
`erator 54 and, when the power is not supplied to the
`television set 3 at that time, to cause a latch circuit 42-4
`to supply a control signal c instructing a turning-on of
`the power relay 45. At this time, an operation informa-
`tion d obtained by the power sensor 44 is supplied to a
`latch circuit 42-5 and compared with the content of the
`memory 42-2 to obtain a coincidence thereof with the
`control signal by which the power relay 45 is turned on.
`A power cord 43 which is connected to a commercial
`electric power outlet is connected through a power
`sensor 44 and a power relay 45 to the television set 3.
`The power sensor 44 and the power relay 45 are con-
`nected to the communication control circuit 42.
`The control unit 34 includes a channel button section
`46, response buttons 47, a power switch 48 and a mes-
`sage lamp 49 all of which are connected to an operation
`detecting circuit 50 which is,
`in turn, coupled to the
`aforementioned communication control circuit 42.
`The operation detecting circuit 50 includes a data
`transmitter—receiver 50-1, a lamp circuit 50-2 and a key
`encoder 50-3 as shown in FIG. 3C.
`When the channel button 46 is changed, the response
`button 47 is turned on or the power switch 48 is turned
`on, information corresponding thereto is supplied to the
`key encoder 50-3 which provides a serial data output
`indicating the switch operated. This serial data is sup-
`plied to the data transmitter-receiver 50-1 from which
`the control signal a indicating the status of the respec-
`tive switches 46 to 48 is sent to the comminucation
`control circuit 42.
`FIG. 4 shows the upper part of the control unit 34.
`Provided at the central portion of the control unit 34 is
`a channel table 51 composed of blocks arranged in three
`rows and eight columns. Line buttons 52 arranged verti-
`cally in one row are provided on the left-hand side of
`the channel table 51 and column buttons 53 arranged
`horizontally in one row are provided below the channel
`table 51. The line buttons 52 and the column buttons 53
`are provided respectively for the blocks in the channel
`table 51. That is, the aforementioned channel button
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`section 46 includes the buttons 52 and 53. The response
`buttons 47 arranged vertically in one row are provided
`on the right-hand side of the channel
`table 51. The
`message lamp 49 is provided above the response buttons
`47 and the power switch is disposed below the response
`buttons 47. The number of line buttons 52 in this exam-
`ple is eight, the number of column buttons 53 is three,
`and the number of response buttons is five.
`The above-described embodiment of the invention
`operates as follows with the operations of the various
`sections successively described:
`
`(1) Transmission of the video signals from the center 4
`
`A variety of television programs are simultaneously
`produced in the source group 20 and their video signals
`are applied to the modulation output section 25. The
`television programs provided by the source group 20
`can be classified into a chargeable program, a guide/in-
`formation program, and a retransmission program as
`described below. For each of the three kinds of pro-
`grams, eight channels are provided. That is, twenty-
`four channels are available.
`
`(A) Chargeable program
`
`This program includes new movie programs and
`special programs,
`i.e. programs provided from the
`video disc player 22 or the video tape recorder 23 or
`live broadcast programs produced in the studio 24. A
`user who has watched chargeable programs is charged
`according to the number of times of watching or the
`period of time of watching.
`
`(B) Guide/information program
`
`This program includes various guide and information
`programs which are useful for guests in the hotel such
`as those concerning the facilities in the hotel,
`town
`sightseeing,
`telephone dial guides, weather forecast,
`traffic information, and news. These programs are
`transmitted repeatedly all day long.
`
`(C) Retransmission program
`
`Television broadcast signals received by the antenna
`12, after being demodulated by the demodulator 21, are
`applied to the modulation output section 25.
`In this
`operation, programs transmitted from local television
`stations are outputted as they are. That is, completely
`the same programs as those received by the ordinary
`television sets are retransmitted.
`The television program video signal is applied by the
`source group to the modulation output section 25 where
`it is modulated by the IF modulator circuit 26. In order
`to assign the signal thus modulated to the designated
`channel, the frequency of the signal is increased to a
`predetermined value by the up-converter 27 according
`to the frequency of the channel selected therefor. The
`video signal thus assigned to the respective channel is
`transmitted through the cable 5.
`In the manner described above, the television pro-
`gram video signals of twenty-four channels are trans-
`mitted through the cable 5. In addition to the twenty-
`four channels, there are provided information transmit-
`ting channels. These channels can be classified as fol-
`lows according to their functions:
`
`Total 24 channels
`(a) General broadcast channels
`8 channels
`Chargeable channels
`8 channels
`Guide/information channels
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`IPR2016-0075
`
`Page 1
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 12
`
`

`
`5
`-continued
`Retransmission channels
`(b) Procedure channel
`(c) Spot channel
`(d) Special channels
`Rental channels
`Business channels
`
`8 channels
`1 channel
`1 channel
`Total 4 channels
`2 channels
`2 channels
`
`Thus, video signals of thirty channels in total are
`transmitted from the modulation output section 25 to
`the television sets 3. However, each terminal unit 35 can
`select the twenty-four general broadcast channels only,
`but cannot select the remaining six channels.
`
`(2) Polling from the center 4
`At the center 4, the data transmitter 28 periodically
`transmits data signals over the cable 5, to determine the
`operating conditions of the terminal units 35. The termi-
`nal units 35 have address numbers, respectively. The
`data transmitter 28 outputs retrieving signals individu-
`ally at predetermined time intervals to call thetterminal
`units 35 with their particular address numbers thereby
`to detect what channel is received at the time’ of‘ re-
`trieval. In response to this retrieving signal, each. termi-
`nal unit 35 answers back to the center the channel
`which was received by the television set at the time of
`arrival of the retrieving signal. Summation of rental fees
`according to the time of use and calculation of addi-
`tional fees for special programs can be readily and
`quickly achieved thereby. The data signals fromthe
`data transmitter 28 include instruction signals for con-
`trolling the terminal units 35 whereby the television sets
`can be remote-controlled as described below.-
`
`(3) Operation (video signal reception) of the television
`set 3
`
`The operation of the television set 3 is started by
`drepressing the power switch 48. The operation detect-
`ing circuit 50 detects the depression of the power
`switch 48 to provide a control signal a. The control
`signal a is applied to the communication control circuit
`42 which in turn applies a power source control signal
`c to the power relay 45. As a result, the power relay 45
`is turned on to supply electric power to the television
`set 3. It is detected by the power sensor 44 whether or
`not electric power is correctly applied to the television
`set 3 through the power relay 45 as a result of which an
`operation information signal d is applied to the commu-
`nication control circuit 42 by the power source 44 so
`that it is determined whether or not the television set 3
`is correctly operated by the operation of the power
`switch 48. In this operation, none of the controls on the
`television set need be operated. That is, all the opera-
`tions that are required for the television set 3 to receive
`video signals are carried out with the control unit 34.
`For this purpose, the channel selector of the television
`set 3 is fixedly set to a particular channel, for instance,
`Channel 2. V
`'
`The center 4 transmits the video signal through the
`cable 5, the branching units 31, and the branch cable 32
`to the main unit 33. The video signal is applied through
`the branching filter 36 and the filter 37 to the channel
`converter 38, in the main unit 33. The frequency of the
`video signal is converted into the frequency of the par-
`ticular channel by the channel converter 38 and is then
`applied through the filter 39 to the television set 3. The
`video signal is reproduced by the television set so that
`the television program can be seen on the television set.
`
`4,439,784
`
`6
`
`(4) Selection of channels
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`A desired channel can be selected by depressing one
`of the line buttons 52 and one of the column buttons 53
`on the control box 34 shown in FIG. 4. That is, one of
`the blocks of the channel table 51 can be selected by so
`doing. This operation corresponds to the operation of
`the channel button section 46 which operation is de-
`tected by the operation detecting section 50 as a result
`of which the control signal a is provided by the section
`50. The control signal a is applied to the communication
`control circuit 42 which in turn applies a channel signal
`to a tuning voltae generating circuit 54 so that a tuning
`voltage icorresponding to the selected channel is gener-
`ated therein. The tuning voltage i is applied to the chan-
`nel converter 38. The channel converter 38 generates a
`local oscillation signal whose frequency is in correspon-
`dence to the tuningvoltage i so that the frequency of
`the received video signal is converted into that of the
`selected channel. The local oscillation frequency j of
`the channel converter 38 is fed back to the tuning volt-
`age generating circuit 54 thus forming a PLL (phase-
`locked loop) to stabilize the frequency.
`
`(5) System operating guide
`As described above, the television set 3 is operated by
`turning on the power switch 48. In this operation, no
`matter what channel is selected by the channel button
`section 46, the communication control circuit 42 oper-
`ates the tuning voltage generator 54 so that the guide-
`/information channel B-1 is tuned in. Upon tuning in of
`the channel B-1, the guide for using the CATV system
`is displayed and the instructions for operating the con-
`trol unit and for receiving broadcast programs are dis-
`played as shown in FIG. 5. This is to allow persons who
`are not familiar with the CATV system to readily un-
`derstand how to operate it and to prevent erroneous
`operation. After the user instructions have been dis-
`played with the channel B-1, the line buttons 52 and the
`column buttons B and C (among the column buttons 53)
`are selectively operated to receive the guide/informa-
`tion programs and the retransmission programs.
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`(6) Method of receiving chargeable programs
`The chargeable programs can be received by operat-
`ing the button A among the column button 53. In com-
`bination with the row buttons 52, the chargeable pro-
`grams of eight channels can be received. Since all the
`guests are not expected to know that the channels in the
`column A are chargeable, it is necessary to inform them
`of the fact that these programs are chargeable before
`they receive them. That is done by displaying the mes-
`sage “You will be charged for the use of this channel”
`. or the like in order to prevent a problem which other-
`wise might be caused when they are requested to pay
`for the reception of the chargeable programs.
`That is, even if, after the instructions for operating
`the system have been introduced with the channel B-1,
`one of chargeable programs is selected by operating one
`of the row buttons 52 and the button A of the column
`buttons‘53, the chargeable program thus selected can-
`not be received immediately and a reconfirmation or
`precaution message, as shown in FIG. 6, is displayed on
`the screen of the television set. This display is carried
`out by the procedure channel. When the operation
`‘detecting circuit 50 transmits to the communication
`control circuit 42 the control signal a representative of
`the selection of a chargeable program, the communica-
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page 1
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 13
`
`

`
`7
`tion control circuit 42 causes the tuning voltage genera-
`tor 54 to operate the channel converter 38 so that the
`procedure channel is received. After the reception of
`the chargeable program has been confirmed, a predeter-
`mined procedure is carried out, that is, in this case, the
`guest is intended to receive the “chargeable” program.
`The procedure is, for instance, as follows:
`(21) Upon selection of a chargeable channel, the afore-
`mentioned confirmation display appears on the
`screen of the television set and the message lamp is
`turned on.
`(b) The message lamp is turned off.
`(c) Then, among the response switches 47, a specified
`switch is depressed once or twice.
`With the above-described operations, the guest’s in-
`tention to receive the program can be confirmed and
`the chargeable channel is then made available for him.
`That is,
`the communication control circuit 42 deter-
`mines the guest’s intention from the data signal b from
`the tuning voltage generator 54 and applies a tuning
`voltage predetermined for the chargeable program’s
`channel to the channel converter 38. Thus, the charge-
`able program can be received. If, when the present
`chargeable program being received is changed to an-
`other chargeable program,
`the same procedure de-
`scribed above is carried out, it can be more positively
`confirmed that the reception of the program is charge-
`able.
`
`(7) Operation of the spot channel
`
`The spot channel is used to allow particular informa-
`tion to appear in the entire area or a particular part of
`the entire area of the picture tube of the television set.
`For instance, it is necessary to inform all of the guests of
`the occurrence of a fire. In this case, if a message as
`shown in FIG. 7 is made on the television sets, then the
`guests in the hotel can know of the fire through their
`television sets.
`In transmission of such information, the data trans-
`mitter 28 in the center 4 applies a down-data signal
`carrying spot information to each of the main units 33.
`This down-data signal is applied, as down-data g, to the
`communication control circuit 42 through the branch-
`ing filter 36 and the down-data receiver 40 whereupon
`the communication control circuit 42 applies the con-
`trol signal h to the tuning voltage generator 54 so that a
`tuning voltage i corresponding to the spot channel fre-
`quency is inputted to the channel converter 38. As a
`result, a television set receiving any channel is forced to
`receive the spot channel. In the case when the television
`set is not switched on, the communication control cir-
`cuit 42 applies the control signal c to the power relay 45
`so as to forcibly operate the television set 3. Thus, the
`information as shown in FIG. 7 is transmitted to the
`guests through all of the television sets.
`Sometimes, it is necessary to inform a particular guest
`only of spot information. For instance, sometimes it is
`necessary to inform only a tourist party of a particular
`message as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, as the rooms
`2 for the tourist party are known, the address numbers
`of the terminal units 35 in the rooms and the down-data
`signal are transmitted by the data transmitting 28 in the
`center. As a result, only the terminal units 35 corre-
`sponding to the address numbers are forcibly operated
`so that the information is transmitted to the tourist party
`only.
`
`4,439,784
`
`8
`
`(8) Response to the spot channel
`In the case where, as was described above, all of or
`some of the terminal units 35 are forcibly operated to
`cause the television sets to receive the spot, sometimes
`it is necessary to ensure whether the guests have re-
`ceived the information or not. For this purpose, the
`center 4 transmits to the terminal units 35 the down-data
`signal including answer-requesting data.
`This down-data signal is applied through the down-
`data receiver 40 to the communication control circuit
`42 and the control circuit 42 is set to receive an answer.
`In other words, the data signal b is applied to the opera-
`tion detecting circuit 50 to turn on the message lamp 49
`so that the preparation for an answer has been accom-
`plished while a message is displayed on the television
`sets so that the specified response buttons 47 can be
`depressed by the guests. The depression of the specified
`response button 47 is detected by the operation detect-
`ing circuit 50 so that the data signal b is applied to the
`communication control circuit 42. When the reception
`of the information has been confirmed by depressing the
`response button 47, the communication control circuit
`42 supplies the data signal f and the control signal e to
`the up-data transmitter 41 which supplies, in turn, the
`up-data signal to the center 4. The up-data signal in-
`cludes the address number peculiar to the terminal unit
`35. These up-data signals are received by the data re-
`ceiver 29 and the contents thereof are analyzed by the
`data analyzer 30 so that the terminal units which have
`carried out the confirmation operation of the reception
`of the information can be determined. The determina-
`tion results are applied through the computer 7 to the
`display unit 10 where they are displayed immediately so
`that the terminal units 35 which have made the confir-
`mation operation can be acknowledged readily.
`Upon operation of the response button 47, the com-
`munication control circuit 42 applies the signal h to the
`tuning voltage generator 54 so that the tuning voltage i
`of the channel which has been received is applied to the
`channel converter 38 as a result of which the present
`channel is switched over to the channel which has been
`received. Thus,
`the same television program can be
`received continuously except for the period of time that
`the information has been transmitted. In the case where
`the television set 3 has been forcibly operated as de-
`scribed above, the power relay 45 is turned off to stop
`the operation of the television set,3.
`
`(9) Reception of the special channels
`
`As described above, programs of four special chan-
`nels are outputted by the modulation output section 25.
`However, these channels are not included in the chan-
`nel
`table 51 shown in FIG. 4 and accordingly they
`cannot be received even by operating the channel but-
`tons 46. The channels can be received upon a particular
`instruction from the data transmitter 28 in the center 4.
`That is, data permitting the reception of the special
`channel is added to the down-data signal from the data
`transmitter 28. As each terminal unit 35 has its own
`address number, the data permitting the reception of the
`special channel can be transmitted to selected terminal
`units 35 using the address numbers. Upon reception of
`the special instruction, in the terminal unit 35, the com-
`munication control circuit 42 operates to apply the
`signal h to the tuning voltage generator 54 so that the
`particular channel can be received when a particular
`channel
`is selected by operating the channel button
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`PMC Exhibit 212
`
`Apple v. PM
`|PR2016-0075
`
`Page 1
`
`PMC Exhibit 2127
`Apple v. PMC
`IPR2016-00753
`Page 14
`
`

`
`9
`section 46. That is, when a particular channel, for in-
`stance, the channel B-8 on the channel table 51 which
`has been specified in advance is selected, the terminal
`unit 35 operates to receive the program of the special
`channel instead of the program which was originally
`assigned to the channel B-8. Thus, in the communica-
`tion control circuit 42 of the terminal unit 35 which has
`received the particular instruction, the tuning voltage
`generator 54 is so controlled that the television se