AU613335B2 - Communication network - Google Patents

Description

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PCT

OPI DATE 19/07/89 AOJP DATE 17/08/89 APPLN. ID 10432 88 PCT NUMBER PCT/GB87/00907 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) S(51) International Patent Classification 4 International Publication Number: WO 89/ 06079 H04M 11/00, 11/06 Al (43) International Publication Date: 29 June 1989 (29.06.89) (21) International Application Number: PCT/GB87/00907 Published With international search report.

(22) International Filing Date: 14 December 1987 (14.12.87) With amended claims.

(71X72) Applicant and Inventor: GORDON, Alastair, Taylor [GB/CA]; 61 Dalewood Road, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2N4 (CA).

(74) Agent: BROOKS, Nigel, Samuel; Hill Hampton, East Meon, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 1QN 6 1 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (European patent), CH (European patent), DE (European patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GB (European patent), IT (European patent), JP, LU (European patent), NL (European patent), NO, SE (European patent).

(54) Title: COMMUNICATION NETWORK 34 36 38 (57) Abstract ELECTRICAL GS WATER U WATER UTILITY UTILITY A communication network advantageously uses existing broadcast channels (24, 32) to instruct remote receivers 39 (16) and eventually use automatic dial-up capability for forming a telephone communication link (26) with a central OTHER processing facility The network is capable of providing 30 37 many services from remote reading of meters (10, 12, 14) to electronic mail and electronic billing. The network is preferably shared by a number of large users (34, 36, 38) communicating with a host of subscribers 26 I, 20 CENTRAL COMMUNICATION RADIO AND PROCESS

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8" '16 2 16 "2 2 WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -1- TITLE: COMMUNICATION NETWORK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present application relates to communication networks, and particularly to communication networks which use existing physical channels of communication which cooperatively form a new system for transfer of information in at least one, and preferably two, directions without the construction of additional physical communication channels or major upgrades to existing physical communication channels. The structure disclosed in this application has application for the automatic reading of various meters provided in homes, businesses, and institutions Tas well as in electronic mail, electronic TELEX -type applications anc securit) systems, and other data communication applications, as out some examples.

Various systems have been proposed fc: establishing a communication network between indivioual subscribers and certain utilities, such as the water utility, the gas utility, or the electric utility, whereby the meter of the particular utility is read electronically and the reading forwarded to the utility electronically.

To a large extent, many of these systems recuirec a telephone communication link being initiated by the utility causing the telephone within the subscribers' dwellino to be activated. Some arrangements olacec equipment before the telephone to recognize an incominc signal, however, these have not proven popular. The main problem with this system is that all phones in a house or dwelling are activated by the incoming call resultinc in inconvenience to the subscriber.

It has also been proposed to utilize existinc cable television systems as a two way communication channel; however, owing to the high cost of conversion from one-way to two-way, such systems have proven to oate only to be speculative. It has also beer recocnizec trnat SUDTTUThE SHET r WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -2it would be possible to again hard wire a further communication channel within a city or region which is in effect what has happened with the use of TELEX systems; however, the cost for doing this has been prohibitive in most cases.

According to the present invention, a new utility or central processor or intermediary is proposed which would function in the manner of existing ucilities for supplying the telephone services. This service would be particularly useful for the electrical utilities, water utilities, gas utilities as prime examples, and could also be used for electronic mail used by corporations anc individuals. Basically, a new communication utility can be established which uses existing communication channels without modification, thus avoiding the massive investment in additional equipment for existing communication systers or for new communication systems that has been proposed in prior art arrangements. In effect, according to the present application, this communication utility is possible and will work in a way very similar to a new wire based communication network without requiring the massive investment for such a new communication network.

According to the present invention, the communication system combines the communication capabilities of the telephone and broaccast mecia with the power of distributed micro-processor intelligence. This system requires a receiver installed on the premises of each subscriber which interfaces with various communication channels including the telephone communication channel and, in certain cases, a cable television outlet. The receiver is adapted to continuali monitor a broadcast signal either sent on the free air or over the cable TV network. In this way, the receiver monitors the broadcast signal checking for a matcr of its identification signal and, upon matchinc its identification signal with a received signal, it initiates a telephone communication from the receiver tc the centra ;TTUr T F T' WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -3processing facility. In this way, the problems associatec with a telephone call being placed to the subscriber from the processing facility are avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A communication network according to the present invention, comprises a plurality of receiving means in combination with a central processing facility. The central processing facility is adapted to receive and automatically answer incoming telephone calls and to send out an instructing signal containing particular identification or address codes and preferrably commanc signals mixed with, or superimposed on, a transmittec broaccast signal. Each of the receivinc means has a particular address, and is tuned to the instructing signal. Each receiving means further includes means for determining whether the instructing sional contains the particular address of the receivino means. Processing means are associated with each receiving means and activated by the receiving means upon receipt of the appropriately addressed instructing signal to execute a control action based on command data contained in the instructing signal, for example, to oetermine the value of at least one predetermined function of a plurality of functions. This value or values is transmitted to the central processing facility by automatically placing a call to the central processing facility and transmittino a code identifying the subscriber and the value of the at least one predetermined function. The central processing facility upon receipt of the transmitted coded sional processes the signal to, in general, combine it vith ctner signals as required for subsequent transmission to predetermined parties.

Although the present invention makes it possible to effectively provide remote reading of varicus meters ir a home, business, or institution, it is also possible tc use this system for the relaying of informaticr. ce:wee, SUB'STTUt SHE1T i WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -4individual subscriber equipment over existing telephone lines by means of a process intermediary. In this arrangement, the communication system includes subscriber equipment activation means other than existing telephone lines, with each subscriber equipment continuously monitor a signal for a match with a predetermined instructing signal. The process intermediary includes means for storing information received by the process intermediary means for eventual transmission to one or more subscribers identified within the information. The process intermediary means includes means for processing the received signal to cause an instructing signal to be produced and transmitted to the identified subscriber over a non-telephone communication link and further induces means for transmittino the stored information over telephone lines when appropriately activatec by the identified subscriber equipment. Each subscriber equipment includes means for establishing a telephone communication link :ith the process intermediary ano includes means for identifying the subscriber to activate the process intermediary means after the communication link has been established and the subscriber identified.

The subscriber equipment also includes means for receiving and recording the information addressed to tne particular subscriber eouipment.

A process for a communication system having a host of individual subscriber stations, each havinc an addressed receiver and processor for identifying a non-telephone signal uniquely addressing the particular station, and means associated with the receiver for initiating a telephone communication link with a sional processing intermediary upon receiving and identifying the address associated with the receiver is taucgt. Tne process requires the signal process intermeciary tc communicate witn an existino broadcast system ,whicr produces, according to its normal operation, a croaocast signal capable of being receiveo by each subscricer S3tFG7UTSI!E SH-EFT WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 station. The process intermediary transmits instructing signals through a communication link for simultaneous transmission with the broadcast signal and includes telephone answering means for completing the telephone communication link with the subscriber station. The process intermediary includes means for storing and processing information received from a subscriber station identifying at least one unique receiver which is one of said subscriber stations, and causing said means for transmitting to transmit the identifying signal and preferrably a command signal of the at least one receiver for simultaneous transmission with the broadcast signal.

The means for processing causes transmission of such information to the identified subscriber station ana facilitates the receipt of such information from the identified subscriber station upon establishment of tne telephone communication link between the station and the signal process intermediary initiated by the subscriber station.

The central processing intermediary according to the present invention comprises means for automatically answering incoming telephone communication links from individual subscribers and establishing whether a signal is to be received from such subscriber for eventual transmission to others, or whether a previously receivec signal is to be transmitted to such subscriber. Means for recording received signals transmitted to the central processor from the subscriber stations over such telephone communication links is present, as well as means for processing each of the received signals to extract the identification code of a further subscriber to which at least a portion of the signal is to be sent. This extracted identification code is transmittec to a broadcast station for simultaneous transmission with a broadcast signal by means for transmitting a siona which, forms part of the central processor. The central processor upon receipt of incoming telephone communicatic-, c rr; WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -6links at least partially determines whether the subscriber is to originate a signal for transmission to others or is to receive a signal transmitted to the central processor by another subscriber. Once this has been determined, the central processor selects the appropriate channel for processing of the signal.

A subscriber station for use in the communicatior, network comprises means for establishing a telephone communication link with a central processor in preparation for the receipt of a signal from or the transmission of a signal to the central processor, tuning means for receiving a signal superimposed on a broadcast signal, means for comparing the received signal with a predetermined code peculiar to the subscriber station, control means for actuatinc the means for establishinc a telephone communication link when a match between the received signal and the predetermined code is found, means for identifying the subscriber station to the central processor when the communication link has been completed, means for receiving and recording a signal originating from the central processor if the control means establishes the communication link, and means for selectively transmitting a signal to the central processor over a telephone communication link for, in general, eventual transmission to another party or subscriber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention are founc in the drawings wherein; Figure 1 is an overview of how the communication system connects various subscribers and each subscriber with one of several laroe utilities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The schematic of the communicationn netork is shown in Figure 1 and includes a plurality of sucscriber stations generally shown as 2, which are linkec to a ?'Uc UT 77"T J k f W -I-1-

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WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -7central processing intermediary generally shown as 20 via telephone modems 4 and the non-dedicated telephone lines 24. Each subscriber station 2 includes an input means, in this case the antenna 6, for receiving the free air communication broadcast generally shown as 32. It can be appreciated that the antenna 6 could be replaceo with a connection to a broadcast carried over a cable network as but one alternative. Each station includes a number of input/output channels generally designated as 8 for allowing connection to the remotely readable gas, water and electricity meters generally designated 1C, 12 and 14 respectively. In addition, a hot water heater 19 or o:ner interruptible loac is connected to the receiver/processor 16 in a manner to allow interruption of the power supply to the hot water heater or other load to effect loac shedding as will be discussed subsequently.

Central processing intermediary 20 is a central computer with the capability of automatically answering various telephone signals conducted over the normal non-dedicated telephone lines. The automatic ansver lines are generally designated as 22. The central processing intermediary 20 is also connected to a radio station 28 via the transmission line 26 to effect transmission of an instructing signal to the radio station 28. Tne instructino signal at least identifies the accress coce of desired subscriber stations, with this instructing sional being superimposed on the normal broadcast signal eventually received by the antennas 6. The receiver processor 16, of each subscriber station 2, continuousil monitors the instructing signal, and when a matcn between the particular address of the receiver/processor 16 anc the instructing signal is achieved, certain functions will be carried out by tne receiver/processor.

Preferrably command cooes are also transmittec wit. tne address codes such that the receiver/processc: 16 carries out the demanded functions generally in preparatic' fc: communicatino with the central process interreciar, 2C.

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WO 89/06079 PCT/GCB87/00907 -8- Therefore, in effect, the broadcast signal 32 which includes the address signals, is used as an outbound link to identify the particular subscriber stations that are to carry out a particular function such as meter reading. In this case, the instructing signal would actuate certain receiver/processors 16 which would then determine the various values of meters 10, 12 and 14. These values may already be stored in memory of the receiver/processor 16 if the signals from the meters are continuously fec to the receiver/processor 16. The receiver/processor 16 via the telephone modem 4 and an automatic dial-up capability places an outgoing telephone call to the central process intermediary 20, whereafter identification of the subscriber station and the various readings vill be transmitted. The central process intermediary 20 vculc record these values and, preferrably, process them with other data received from subscriber stations for appropriate distribution to the utilities such as electrical utility 34, gas utility 36 and water utility which can be electronically connected to the central process intermediary via dedicated or non-dedicated communication lines 37 or may be connected in a conventional manner such as by mail. Obviously, the electronic communication is preferrec, anc will alloy more rapid invoicing by the various utilities.

In addition, other institution type users 39 of the system are shown and include governments, banks, 1 brokers, newspapers, advertisers, security agencies, ticket agencies, credit card companies, data base services, market survey firms etc., who desire electronic communication with subscribers. These users may have a dedicated or non-dedicated connection to the central process intermediary 20 and may or may not require two way communication. This group would also "subscribe" tc the system but because of its particular purpose, this group has been separately identifieo. These other users 39, may require additional equipment 18 at each subscrioer statior S.UT i T 7 71'S h WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -9for functions such as information display, printing, entering, editing, storage, and processing. This equipment may include a printer, display, keyboard, storage means, and computer system, among other devices.

It is also possible to use this communication system for other functions, such as load shedding which will be discussed with respect to interruptible loads sucr as the hot water heater 19. It is well known that the electrical utility must operate within fairly rigid maximum load requirements and pay substantial penalties for exceeding the maximum. In order to provioe them with control or at least some control over the total demand for electrical power, certain interruptible appliances within individual premises can be automatically disconnected for a short perioc of time to therecy reoce the peak load. This is true of hot water heaters ano central air conditioners, and water heater 19 has been connected with the receiver/processor 16 ano upon an appropriate signal being transmitted to the receiver/processor 16, the power supply of the hot water tank can be temporarily interrupted as required.

Many advantages are possible by having a central process interemdiary which effectively connects inoivioual subscribers with individual utilities anc otner institutional users. Centralizeo meter reacing for example, becomes an economic reality. In addition, the basic equipment can be added to make possible electronic mail and electronic billing as additional services. The communication network uses existing technology to allow the completion of a telephone communication link between the subscriber station and the central processing intermediary to be activated by the subscriber station upon receipt of an instructing signal. Therefore, two existino communication channels, broadcast anc cial-up telephone, have been advantageously comrinec anc a central processing intermediary has been introducec to substantially reduce the capital cost associatec -it, e:ac ~i WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 station. Furthermore, secondary features such as load shedding and time of day billing can be accomplished providing further economic justification of the capital costs.

The receiver/processor 16 includes logic such that the outgoing call to the central processing intermediary 20 only occurs when the telephone line is available and aborts the call in the event that another phone connected to the line is used. In this way, the normal operation of the telephone within the subscriber's premises remains unchanged and the subscriber station 2 only uses the line when not in use by the occupants.

It can be appreciated that the various utilities can make requests of the central processing intermediary via the preferred direct communication lines 37, however, it is somewhat more effective if all meter readincs are transferred from the subscriber station to the central processor intermediary at the same point in time.

Therefore, in order to transfer the required information to separate utilities, the central processing facility processes the information received from each subscriber and separates the same into the appropriate groups for distribution to the separate utilities. In this way, the central processing intermediary processes the infcrmation into a suitable form for use by other parties.

Figure 1 up to this point, has been discussed with respect to the communication system for use in gathering information available at the subscriber's premises and/or the possibility of load shedding with respect to some appliances. It is also possible with this system to implement such services as dynamic time of oay billing for electrical power, time of day metering for electrical utilities, quality of service monitoring for electrical utilities, supply pressure monitoring for water and gas utilities, control of certain uses of wazer, on-line monitoring of fuel oil tank levels, on-line monitoring of gas leaks, inventory monitoring for c- "Tr~r rr J~L ,jr7'T'T"7r WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -11industrial gas cylinders, inventory monitoring for vencinc machines and remote monitoring and control of distributec equipment. These services require the use of specialized sensors of one sort or another, which result in an electrically-readable signal. The receiver/processor can be appropriately programmed to process these signals anc provide a telephone communication link between the receiver/processor and the process intermediary. It is also possible in the present system to provide on-line monitoring of security alarms, on-line monitoring of smoke and fire alarms, on-line monitoring of flood alarms, heat loss alarms, panic switch alarms, medical monitoring anc extended power failure alarms using the proposed communication network and suitable sensors.

In order to provide electronic mail or messages, the receiver/processor of the subscriber would be provioec with a terminal 18 for the presentation and entry of information and preferrably some processing means and memory capacity. In a more sophisticated embodiment, it may utilize a personal computer as the terminal eouipment 18 connected to receiver/processor 16 via line 17. A message would be originated at one subscriber station which thereafter would make the telephone communication link with the central processing intermediary 2C and transfer the desired message with the address of the subscriber or user to whom the message is destineo. The central processing intermediary 20 would then extract the address code of the subscriber or user to which the message is to be sent and have a signal produced ano transmitted with the broadcast signal generally incicatec as 32. As all receiver/processors 16 are continuously monitoring the broadcast signal they would recognize their particular address coce anc, in this case, may recognize a further code indicatinc that a messace was waitinc fcr them at the central process intermediary. The user cf that particular receiver/processor would have a message cr indication appearino thereon produced by his o r WO 89/06079 PCT/GB87/00907 -12receiver/processor acknowledging a messa.ge hao been received by the central process intermediary. In this manual-type operation, the person would then complete a telephone communication link and have the message transmitted to him. It is also possible to automatically have this message transfered once the signal was receivec by the station using its automatic dial-up capability for contacting the central process intermediary Therefore, this arrangement again uses the existing dial-up telephone lines to effect a communication link between the subscriber and the central process intermediary while using the broadcast signal to alert tne subscriber eouipment of particular functions to be performed.

The system described above provices an interactive subscriber service, which in effect, acts as a medium suitable for electronic mail, electronic delivery of invoices, electronic bill paying, electronic direct mail advertising, personalized real time information services, personlized notification services, electronic message services, shop at home services, home bankino services, consumer surveys, plebisites, electronic purchase and delivery of tickets, ano home lottery selection and ticket delivery to mention only a fe, of the possibilities. This full interactive subscriber service is accomplished without the creation of a new physical communication channel, by using the existing communication channels in a unique manner.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appenoec claims.

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Claims (15)

1. 9- c ,9to THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE WH- PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: wher aboL 1. A communication system for delivering information to selected individual subscriber equipment over existing telephone lines by means of a process intermediary, said sub. system including subscriber equipment activation means comprising a non-telephone communication link, said process rec unic intermediary means including means for receiving assc information, means for identifying subscriber equipment for telE which information is to be delivered, means for intE incorporating the code of the identified subscriber equipment in the non-telephone communication link, and means sigr for delivering the information over telephone channels when appropriately activated by the identified subscriber equipment; proc saic each said subscriber equipment including means for monitoring the non-telephone communication link for a saic predetermined code, means for establishing a telephone sigr communication link with said process intermediary upon identification of said predetermined code, means for telt identifying the subscriber equipment to said process intermediary means upon establishing such telephone communication link, and means for accepting the information re delivered thereto over said telephone link. one tral lea 2. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for processing includes a communication connection with an existing broadcast station and includes suc means for superimposing said instructing signal on a known upol broadcast signal for the simultaneous broadcast thereof. sai by 3. A communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each subscriber equipment includes processing means for for selectively contacting said process intermediary only modi SUnited K .n e aPatent Officeis e etin, e 71-1 SUBSTITUTE ShL'J PCT t .UB £idL -j -2- Internatlional Aoplrcation No. PCT/GB 87/00907 0907 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTINUED FROM THE SECOND SHEET A IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, volume! 7,10-13, 23, no. 11, April 1981, (New York, I 16,18,19, US This annex lists PCT/GB 87 nn9"7 S9 February 1990 WH-6774B 3253H/0079F when said telephone communication link is not in use or about to be used by the subscriber. 4. A communication system having a host of individual subscriber stations, each having an addressed receiver/processor for identifying a non-telephone signal uniquely addressing the particular receiver, and means associated with said receiver/processor for initiating a telephone communication link with a signal process intermediary upon receiving and identifying said addressing signal, said signal process intermediary including a communication link with a broadcast system which produces a broadcast signal capable of being received by said subscriber stations, means for transmitting instructing signals through said communication link for transmission in the broadcast signal, telephone answering means for completing the telephone communication link with said subscriber stations, means for storing and processing information received from an originating station identifying at least one subscriber station and causing said means for transmitting to transmit the instructing signal of the at least one subscriber station in the broadcast signal, said means for processing causing transmission of such information to said at least one subscriber station upon completion of the telephone communication link between said station and said signal process intermediary initiated by said subscriber station. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for initiating a communication link includes a telephone modem and automatic dial up equipment. UST1'E SEET IUnited Kir,''m Patent Office .UBSTITUTE PCT Internit'cI-al Application I PCT1 B 81I 907 WH-6774B 3253H/OO79F 6. A communication system for transmitting information originating from a receiving and transmitting station and destined for another receiving and transmitting statiun over telecommunication channels comprising: a plurality of receiving and transmitting stations, each having a unique address code, means for receiving a broadcast signal, means for determining whether the particular address code is contained within the received broadcast signal, an automatic telephone dialer, means for actuating said automatic dialer when the address code is determined to be contained in said received broadcast signal, and a telephone channel associated with said telephone dialer, a central processing facility including means to receive and automatically answer incoming telephone communications and store information including address codes transmitted during such communications, means to create an instructing signal containing particular address codes and incorporate such address codes in a broadcast signal, and a broadcast station which transmits such address codes to receiving and transmitting stations, wherein information identifying the destined receiving and transmitting station is transmitted from an originating station to said central processing facility which incorporates the address code of the destined receiving and transmitting station in a broadcast signal which when received by said destined receiving and transmitting station determines the particular address code is included in the broadcast signal by said determining means and actuates said automatic telephone dialer completing a telephone communication with said central processing facility which upon identification of said particular receiving means transmits to said destined receiving and transmitting station the information. ,UBSTITUTE SHEET IA 1~r/7 PCT/GB 87 /00907 S9 Februar7 1990 WH-6774B 3253H/079F 7. A communication system for delivering information to subscriber stations comprising a central processing facility means and a plurality of subscriber stations, said central processing facility means including: means for automatically receiving incoming communications having included therein an address code of a subscriber station for which the communication is destined and information for the subscriber station, means for storing the received communications in accordance with the address codes, means for producing a non telephone activating signal for the subscriber stations for which communications have been received by including therein the address codes of the appropriate subscriber stations, and means for transmitting the received telephone communication to the appropriate identified subscriber station by means of a telephone communication link initiateo by the destined subscriber station, each subscriber station including means for receiving the non telephone activating signal and processing such signal to determine whether the address code of the particular subscriber station is present, and means for completing a telephone communication link with the central processing facility and providing the particular address code of the subscriber whereupon the telephone communication is transmitted by the central processing facility to the subscriber station over said telephone link. 8. A communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said central processing facility includes a host of ports for receiving telephone communications destined for identified subscriber stations. 9. A communication system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said subscriber stations include means for sharing a T telephone channel with other subscriber or non-subscriber 7 -v4 1/7. United Kirndom Patent Offic( A.1 C Ci ITI -C r T I PCT I Annrii nr 00 Hu .13 IL P P1T8R 8I7n0907 V77 6 Novmrrber 1989 WH-6774B 3253H/0079F devices such that said telephone channel is only used when available. A communication system as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein said non telephone signal is a free air radio or other broadcast signal.
2. 11. An information delivery system comprising in combination, a broadcast station which transmits a free air signal, a plurality of receiving means each identified by an address code and an intermediate processing facility system; said intermediate processing facility system including means to receive and automatically answer incoming telephone communications, means to temporarily store, process,retrieve and/or associate information with a particular receiving means, means to originate an instructing signal containing particular receiving means address codes in response to inputted information identifying said receiving means by address code, and means for incorporating said instructing signal in said broadcast station signal; each of said receiving means being tuned to said broadcast signal and including means for determining whether said broadcast signal contains the particular address code of the receiving means; and processing means associated with each receiving means and activated thereby upon determining said broadcast signal contains said receiving means address code, said processing means when activated transmitting an identifying code to said intermediate processing facility system by means of a non-dedicated telephone channel in cooperation with means for automatically dialing a known telephone number of said intermediate processing facility system whereafter information associated with the particular receiving means is delivered thereto by means of said intermediate processing facility, said means for automatically dialing forming part of said processing means. SUBST-IUTE SHEET r DTC)- 11s'1n o^ f~ic :13 PCT/GB 87108907 -6 Novemlitt 198) WH-6774B 3253H/0079F
3. 12. An information delivery system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said instructing signal is transmitted in said broadcast signal in a side band and said receiving means are tuned to said side band.
4. 13. An information delivery system as claimed in claim ll, adapted to deliver electronic mail to said receiving means.
5. 14. A communication system having a processing facility system and a number of subscriber stations which are selectively activated by an instructing signal controlled by said processing facility system to accommodate exchange of information received by the processing facility system from one subscriber station or another source and destined for another subscriber station identified by an address code, said processing facility system selectively activating said subscriber stations by means of a free air broadcast signal originating from a broadcast station which transmits said instructing signal in accordance with information received by said processing facility system, each subscriber station when activated forming a telephone communication link with said processing facility system and upon identification of the subscriber station to the processing facility system, said processing facility system transmitting the appropriate received information to said identified subscriber station. A communication system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said instructing signal is transmitted in a frequency side band of the broadcast signal and said subscriber stations are tuned to said frequency side band.
6. 16. A telecommunication system comprising a processing intermediary and a plurality of identified stations, said processing intermediary being adapted to receive information destined for an identified station and deliver the SUBSTITUTE SHEET PCT/GB 87 10 0 9 07 9- February 1990 19 WH-6774B 3253H/0079F information to the particular station, said process intermediary having associated therewith means for producing non-telephone authorizing signals for reception by the identified stations, each station including means for receiving the non-telephone authorizing signals and determining whether the particular station has been authorized, each station upon being authorized automatically initiating a telephone communication link connecting the authorized station with said process intermediary and by means of which the destined information is delivered to the particular station over said telephone link.
7. 17. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each station includes unique address codes used to identify the station and to identify information destineo for said station.
8. 18. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein code identifying the destined stations are included in the authorizing signal and by means of which the particular stations are authorized.
9. 19. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein said non-telephone authorizing signal is a broadcast signal and each station is adapted to receive such broadcast signal and identify particular code which when present result in the station being authorized. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein said non-telephone authorizing signal is a broadcast signal and each station is adapted to receive such broadcast signal and identify particular code which when present result in the station being authorized, and wherein an authorized station only initiates the telephone communication link when a non-dedicated telephone line is UBSITUTE Sl =United K Patent OfficaI PCT Internstorna Application SP TIf" 87 1n 090t WH-6774B 0 9 253H/U079F available such that the requirement for a dedicated telephone line is avoided.
10. 21. A telecommoinication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said non-telephone authorizing signals are free air broadcast signals at a particular frequency and said means for receiving of each station is a radio receiver tuned to the particular frequency.
11. 22. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16 or 21, wherein each station includes an automatic dialer and circuit means for determining if a non-dedicated telephone line is available, each station when authorized only seizing the telephone line when available whereby other users may share the line.
12. 23. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16, wherein each station additionally receives information directly from various local sources and stores and forwards the information to the central process intermediary when authorized and when the information is requested.
13. 24. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said various local sources are various utility meters associated with the particular station. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16, 21 or 23, wherein said destined information is derived from a telex communication.
14. 26. A telecommunica-ion system as claimed in claim 16, 21 or 23, wherein said destined information is derived from telefax communications received by said process intermediary. SUBSTITUTE SHEET
15. 47. I P CT/GB -6 November 1989 WH-6774B G t)-q253H/O79F 27. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 16, 21 or 23, wherein said system is designed for modified telex, telefax or electronic mail transmission first received by the process intermediary and subsequently delivered to the destined station. 28. A telecommunication system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said process intermediary stores received information in accordance with the address code of the destined receiver in memory and delivers the information to the particular station by recalling the signal from memory. 29. In a telex communication system having a number of dedicated telex terminals, a processing intermediary and a plurality of identified stations, said processing intermediary being adapted to receive and temporarily store in memory information destined for an identified station and subsequently deliver the signal to the particular station, said process intermediary having associated therewith means for producing non-telephone authorizing signals for reception by the identified stations, each station including means for receiving the non-telephone authorizing signals and determining whether the particular identified station has been authorized, each identified station upon being authorized automatically initiating a telephone communication link connecting the authorized station with said process intermediary and by means of which the destined information is delivered to the particular station. In a telex communication system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said non-telephone authorizing signals are free air broadcast signals at a particular frequency and said means for receiving of each modified station is a radio receiver tuned to the particular frequency. UBST7 UTE SHEET I. PCT/GB 87 00 9 07 February 1990 2- iJo WH-6774B 3253H/OU79F 31. In a telex communication system as claimed in claim 29, wherein each identified station includes an automatic dialer and circuit means for determining if a non-dedicated telephone line is available, each modified station when authorized only seizing the telephone line when available whereby other users may share the line. 32. In an electronic mail system having a number of identified stations and a processing intermediary, said processing intermediary being adapted to receive and temporarily store in memory signals destined for an identified station and subsequently deliver the information to the particular station, said process intermediary having associated therewith means for producing non-telephone authorizing signals for reception by the identified stations, each identified station including means for receiving the non-telephone authorizing signals and determining whether the particular identified station has been authorized, each identified station upon being authorized automatically initiating a telephone ccmmu- nication link connecting the authorized identified station vith said process intermediary and by means of which the destined information is delivered to the particular station over said telephone link. 33. In an electronic mail system as claimed in claim 32, wherein said non-telephone authorizing signals are free air broadcast signals at a particular frequency and said means for receiving of each identified station is a radio receiver tuned to the particular frequency. 34. In an electronic mail system as claimed in claim 33, wherein each identified station includes an automatic dialer and circuit means for determining if a non-dedicated telephone line is available, each identified station when authorized only seizing the telephone line when available whereby other users may share the line. nUBSTITUTE SHEET United Pctcnt Office PCT International Application ij