CA1216932A - Television information system - Google Patents

Abstract

TELEVISION INFORMATION SYSTEM

ABSTRACT
This television information system transmits selected video picture information to one of a number of subscribers who have television sets connected to the system. First, the subscriber makes a selection by transmitting a request to the head end. A central computer interprets the request, searches the available data banks for the information, and records it. Next, the information along with an identifying number is returned to the system and sent to a control station.
At the control station, the identifying number is used to route the information to a particular modulator associated with the subscriber who made the request. The information is stored and used to modulate a unique carrier frequency which has been dedicated to that subscriber.
The control station sends the modulated carrier frequency (containing the selected information) to a feeder line to which may be connected a number of subscribers, including the one who made the request. If the requesting subscriber's television set is tuned to his carrier frequency, he can receive the requested information. Privacy is assured by dedicating to each subscriber a different carrier frequency and associated television channel, and by filtering out all other channels which might be transmitted on the feeder line.
Standard, unmodified television sets may be used with this system;
and rapid retrieval of information from large data banks is possible.

Description

TELEVISION INFORMATION SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVE~TION
Cable Television A significant proportion of television entertainment is presentlydelivered by way of cable television systems. In general, these systems can receive broadcast television signals on ~ common antenna or set of antennas, amplify the Sigrl81S, and distribute them along transmission lines either at their original frequencies or after conversion to difIerent frequencies. The transmission lines are connected to the television sets of the system's subscribers, usually through a decoding or filtering device which is intended to prevent non-subscribers from recei~r;ng the signals.
Frequency conversion is often necessary in systems which h~ndle programs broadcast from outside the local area, since there is a good chance ~at signals will be received from two different stations which operate on the s~me ~hannel. (A standard br~dcast television channel in the United States is a b&nd of frequencies 6 MHz in width.) Cable television systems are also well suited to transmit non-broadcast programming to ~eir subscribers. Such programs originste within the cable television system itself, for example by displaying a motion picture to a ~elevision camera and using the resulting electrical signal to modulate a carrier freqency.
In either case, cable television systems consist of four main parts:
a head end, the main trunk cable distribution system, feeder cables and drops from feeder cables to the subscriberls ~ set. A cable television head end includes ~e television receiving antenn0s for off-air pick up ~nd microwave ~nd/or satellite receivers for other direct television programming as well as equipment that originates local programming.
From the he~d end, trunk lines transport the signal to feeder lines which carry signals past e~ch home.
The integrity of trunk cables is not meant to be breached by tapping off signals for direct distribution to subscriber homes. Rather this is accomplished with ~ feeder cable. The signals on feeder cables come from amplifiers (bridger amplifiers~ bridged across the trunk cable at distribution points. Therefore, in many cases, feeder cables rnust parallel or backtrQck side-by-side with the trunk cable in order to have a cable that can be tapped to feed a signal to subscribers. Signal losses in feeder cables may require line extender ampliIiers approximately every 1500 feet. These multi-channel amplifiers c~use problems themselves. Repeated amplification of broadband television signals causes noise, inter-modulation distortion and echoes, increasing with each amplification, thereby limiting the distance that signals CQn be transmitted while maintaining a given standard of picture qu~lity.
Cable losses increase with frequency as well as with distance.
Thus, the superband VHF portion of the cable spectrum, 216 to 300 MHæ, is subjeet to greater loss than the highband and lowband VHF, 54 MHz to 216 ~lHz.
While the TV channel ~llocation spans the spectrum from 54 to 890 MHz, a cable television system utilizes only a small part of this spectrum. The first cable television systems were built in the early 1950's to provide broadcast chAnnel~ to subscribers in areas that could not receive off-air signals. These e~rly 5-channel systems used the st~ndard television frequencies from 54 to 88 MHz for distribution of these broadcast ch~nnels. When the state of the ~rt advanced to include 12 channels, cable used the high VHF spectrum of 174 to 216 MHz as well. These 12 ~hanne]s could be received without a converter. To increase to 21 channels, cable systems used the midb~nd spectrum from 108 to 174 MHz to edd nine additional channels; these channels required using a frequency converter since the tele rision set tuners could not accom modate these micbQnd channe]s . Current 35-channel systems add 14 addition~l channels by using 216 to 300 MHz. To accomplish this, frequency converters were upgraded. Plans exist now to ~dd another 3'~

25 channels, extend the cable television spectrum to 450 MHz. Thus, as cable television systems add channels, they use increasingly higher frequencies. This can only be done at the cost of greater signal attenuation .
The upper frequency limit on trunks is established by the performance of linear broadband amplifiers and by trunk cable a$tenuation, which increases with incressing frequency. Feeder cable length is limited to about 1500 feet by the attenuation at the highest frequencies carried on the feeder. Therefore, the gap between the highest VHF televisiorl frequency at 216 MHz and the lowest IJHF
television frequency at 1~0 MHz establishes a natural barrier to attempted carriage of both VHF and UHF signals on a cable system.
Bidirectional Unicable Switching System An improvement in cable television system technology was introduced by U.S. Patent 4,077,0û6, issued to Nicholson on February 28, 1978. Briefly, the Nicholson patent describes a bidirectional cable television system in which each subscriber has a dedicated television carrier frequency and channel for receipt of any signals which the system is capable of sending to that subscriber, except for FM radio broadcasts which are sent to everyone at the original frequencies tin the band from 88 to 108 MHz). The heart of Nicholson's system is the control station at the head of each feeder line (at its intersection with the trunk line).
The control stations receive all incoming television programs transmitted along the trunk line, as well as requests rom subscribers who wish to view a particul~r channel. The incoming channels are first converted to a single intermediate frequency channel, then the particular program that a subscriber wishes to view is routed by switches to a frequency converter which converts it to the subscriber's dedicated channel. The selec$ed program is finally output to ~e feeder line together with programs Feguested by other subscribers and converted to their dedicated channels. At the subscriber terminal, one bandpass filter separates FM
radio broadcasts from the feeder line, ~nd ~nother separates the programming which was converted to that subscriber's dedicated channel.
For further details regarding this system, the reader is referred to the Nicholson patent itself.

Videotext Systems In the past few years, the revolution in information technology h~s led to the research, development and field testing of "videotext"
systems -- a technolo~y which uses electronic devices for the widespread dissemination and retrieval of information. These systems have in common the ability to ~llow subscribers access to large data bases of information using a modified or adapted television terminal.
While there is little doubt that these "electronic newspapers" have widespread applicability, use on a mass basis has been delayed by the high costs of developing these new technologies and by the perceived obstacles to acceptance by consumers and information providers (cost of terminal equipment, cost of system usage, primitive display systems).
While existing system delineations are blurred, the following summary categorizes them as either "viewdata" or "teletext."
Teletext systems are one-way videotext systems in which information in digital form is placed on unused portions of the television signal by means of special terminal equipment built-in or attached to a television setO Unlike viewdata, where the subscriber interacts individually with the data base, in teletext ~e complete data base is cycled continuously and it is available simultaneously to all subscribers.
Using a keypad, the desired information LS selected by Ule subscriber as it is cycled, stored in a local memory, decoded snd formatted for use by a character ~enerator, and displayed on a television receiver.
In the United States ~e makeup of a television pieture limits, for all practical purposes, information transmission of teletext to only two lines (17 and 18) of the Verticsl Blanking Interval (VBI). Therefore, the potential size of the teletext d~ta bQse is limited by the amount of information that can be cycled in a time period acceptable to the subscriber. Using these two lines, 90 pages of text can be cycled in 6D seconds; field tria]s have indicated that this is an unacceptable limit.
Experiments using YBI lines below 17 and 18 to increase the information capacity have not been ;very successf ul.
Teletext has many obstacles to widespread use snd consumer acceptance. Some of the most obvious are the retrieval time and size of the d~ta bank, the cost of equipment in the home, the rudimentary 3`~

graphics3 and the absence of privacy. Because the subscriber selects information as it is cycled, the size of the data bank is limited by an acceptable waiting time. In the ll.S. where only 2 lines of the VBI
are available for data transmission, teletext is, for all practical purposes, still ~ narrowband and consequently slow system. To use the teletext system, the subscriber must rent or purchase a modified television receiver with a keypad, ~ decoder with memory, a character generator for visual displ~y, and a page grabber~ A less-sophisticated version has a keypad, set top modulator and decoder. Even the most primitive terminals presently cost several hundred dollars more than conventional television. 13ven with mass production, the terminal costs will be too great for the occasional user. The primitive alphanumeric and graphic displ~ys have limited marketability. Because all subscribers have access to the same information at the s~me time~ teletext has limited acceptability for information providers who want to restrict their information to special users. Teletext also has limited appeal to information providers because the one-way system makes it impossible to record and charge for the specific page requested.
Viewdata is a narrowband, interactive switched system employing telephone lines ts transport information from data banks to subscribers.
In a viewdata system, typically the subscriber requests information via a keypad or a keyboard ~ttached to a telephone line. This information, stored either in central or localized data banks, is forwarded to the subscriber in page pQckets, stored in the interactive "terminal" and formatted for display on & color television receiver. The display consists of alphanumeric characters and stylized graphics.
Access to viewdatfi systems involves individualized, interactive tree searches. An inform tion request leads the subscriber to general information; the subscriber refines his request~ which le~ds to more specific p~ges. Thus, the process often involves several interactions before the subscriber obtains the desired information.
Information providers therefore f~ce ~ mapr challenge: to design the "search" system to ensure that the subscriber does not get lost or frustrated in his data search. The information provider, in structuring his information, must think like his subscriber and must strive to create a "friendly system" which will allow the subscriber to retrieve the desired information with as little trouble as possible.
To accomplish this interaction, typical viewdata terminal equipment consists of a keyboard, microprocessor, memory, display controller, a color television and ~ 1200 bit/s modem to allow transmission of digital data over standard telephone lines. A separate dedicated telephone drop is needed to avoid tying up regular telephone service. The narrow telephone bandwidth limitation of the viewdata system frequently results in lengthy retrieval interva]s. For example, in a typical viewdata system, a simple tree search, involving perhaps five interactions, can often take 60 seconds because of the wait time necessary for each page to be displayed on the television screen (6 to 11 seconds per page). A more complex se~rch can take even longer.
In addition, while the system allows the subscriber access to Q
very large centr~l data base, or ~n unlimited number of localized or specialized data bases, the system can easily be overloaded when subjected to very many siml~ltaneous requests.
Because each inform~tion request is individualized -- only the subscriber receives the information requested over his own private telephone line -- the system can be adapted for groups requiring a secure channel.
Typically~ the graphic display systems for viewdata are rudimentary; they are not capable of producing true photogr~phic representations. lnstead, ~lphanumerics and picture-like graphics are produced by using ~ mosaic su~element matrix of two columns and three rows per character. The process is primitive ~nd slow. A second gener~tion viewdata system, now under development, hAs refined graphic c~pability. ~ts graphic display of 960 lines by 1280 picture elements, 1,228,800 pixel locatiorls, provides nearly 20,0û0 times as much detail as the e~rlier systems. This refinement is not without its tradeoffs: the system's alpha-geometric decoder costs ne~rly ten times that of a first generation decoder, further, transmitting a graphic image using this "best c~se" stylized graphic system m~y take hours.
While e~ibiting much potential, the widespread adoption of viewd~ta systems faces several types of obstacles, including length of 3~

retrieval time and complexity of the search pro- ess, cost of equipment in ~e home, cost of using the system, and rudimentary graphics.
The use of narrowband telephone equipment means thflt a simple request may take as long as 60 seconds; more complex requests may involve much longer times. Because of the interactive nature OI the system, a subscriber may become frustrated in his search if the information is not sufficiently coded and cross refererlced. The subscriber may not find what he needs.
In order to use a viewdata system, the subscriber, in addition to a dedicated telephone line, needs an adapted television receiver equipped with a keypad, memory, microprocessor, and display csntroller. Prototype models cost approximately $2,000-$3,00Q. Even if mass production could subst~ntially reduce the price to a target of 50% more than a standard color television, only the most serious subscribers (businesses and professionals) could afford the system.
A typical system involves three charges: a local telephone call, an overall charge for the use of the system on a per minute basis twith variations for peak or off-peak usage), and a price for accessing the dlata base. This l~st charge is a per-page price established by the information provider. Rates vary a~cording to the type of information requested, ranging from $.02 to a maximum of $1.00 per page.
Advertisements may be free, an index to infsrmation available at nominal rates, and specialized, technical informstion commanding the highest rates. Thus, a typical request may ~ost $.25 Q page, far above the cost of a daily newspaper or even a phone call to elicit the equivalent information.
While the display can present textu&l information adequately, the inability to reproduce p~otographs mak~ these systems poor eandidates for mass marketing where the ~bility to see the ac~ual product and compare it with similar products is essential.
Cable Television Systems With Videotext Cable television systems, although used only experimentally for information retrieval flnd dissemination, have many inherent advant~ges.
The greater spectrum available to cable systems allows them to transmit many channels -- older systems normally carry 12 channeLs and newer f.~U~L6`~

ones 35 channels (although systems capable of as many as 128 channels are currently being proposed in larger urban markets). Thus, the allocation of a large amount of spectrum space to data is possible.
Further, because the channels are wideband, data can be transferred faster.
Finally, the wide b~ndwidth available through cable television systems provides for transmission of standard television photo images in 1/30 of a second (in addition to alphanumeric nnd graphic representations).
However, in order for a subscriber to "hold pictures" each terminal device would have to be equipped with a "frame grabber" which would select the television photo image frames, store them in a local memory at the terminal location, and refresh them for the television screen.
"Frame grabbers" currently have only been produced in small quantities and are very expensive.
Since all cable systems provide a one-way distribution to the home, teletext, which is a one-way system, can easily be adapted for cable systems without limiting use to lines in ~he vertical blanking interval. An entire television channel could be devoted to teletext.
However, in order to store photo images, a frame grabber would be required at the subscriber location~ in ~ddition to the terminal equipment necessary for broadcast teletext (keypad, decoder, modulator3.
Viewdata (interactive) applications are also possible with cable television systems. Two-way systems ~lready allow for return data from subscriber locations. Older one-w~y systems lwill require the addition of amplifiers and filters, or retrofitting with a second cable.
Cable networks, linked via satellite, can provide a viewdata user with access to data banks at different locations, or with a central data bank located at the head end.
Cable television, which has already established the tradition of monthly subscriber charges for services, can market videotext as an add-on service, offering subscribers teleteact, viewdata, or both, for a monthly service charge, or charging per page on computer interfnced two-way systems.
While the use of cable television solves some of the problems inherent in teletext or viewdata by providing greater spectrum and bandwidth, and is capable of transmitting photo images, there are still obstacles to mass use, including the cost of terminal equipment, but problem of privacy, and the design of existing systems.
Any market resistance to high subscriber terminal costs which would limit marketing o-E viewdata or teletext would also limit cable television. The advantage of cable television over viewdata (not counting the elimination of exorbitant telephone line costs) is the abili-ty to display "photographic" images which could be transmitted at a rate of 30 per second. However, this advantage is immediately weaken-ed or even dissipated by the prohibitive cost of installing a "frame grabber" with memory storage at each subscriber loca-tion. Mass marketing is lnhibited or vitiated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of an aspect of the present invention is to adapt the latest cable television technology, as exemplified by the Nicholson patent, to the dissemination and retrieval of information. Using the present invention, individual sub-scribers are able to receive selected information from databanks through the same system which brings them television programming, and to receive it on their own, unmodified tele-vision sets. Accordingly, an object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide information to subscribers without the need for expensive terminal equipment at the sub-scribers' locations.
An object of an aspect of the present invention is to give subscribers quick access to information from a large data bank, a combination which is impossible under existing teletext systems. An object of an aspect of the present invention is to maintain privacy in an information retrieval system by giving each subscriber a dedicated television channel;
a collateral object is to maintain privacy in such a system without the need for each subscriber to have an information-dedicated telephone line.

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- 9a -An object of an aspect of the present invention is to allow subscribers to an information-delivery system to receive photographic information and not merely stylized graphics.
A cable television and information system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is capable of transmitting selected data to subscribers. In addition to the VHF television channels on which each subscriber ~6~

receives regular programmin~, a UHF television channel is dedicated or assigned to each subscriber to deliver information. The use of an entire 6 MHz UHF channel for information guarantees that a great deal of information can be transmitted in a short time, thus satisfying the requirement for minimal retrieval time. The large bandwidth aLso allows photographic information to be delivered to subscribers' television sets.
This cable television system includes a head end, trunk lines, bridger amplifiers, control stations, feeder lines and a central computer connected to the head end. The control stations inelude ~n information retrieval system for extracting information from the trunk lines and converting the frequencies carrying the infcrmation to the proper dedicated UHF
frequencies. The cable television and information system also includes a subscriber station which includes a keyboard for selection of d~ta to be displayed.
In the above cable television and inform~tion system, specialized equipment is concentrated at the control station, out of reach of the subscriber. Thus, the amount of specialized equipment reguired is only 8 fraction of what would be needed if each subccriber's home were so equipped, since one set of equipment in this system can serve many subscribers.
The subscriber generates data selection instructions identifying the desired d~ta by typing the ~ppropriate ch~racters on the keybo~rd. Radio frequency signals corresponding to the keystrokes and to the station's identification number are trsnsmitted along the feeder line to the control station, which demodulates and stores the signals. They also travel to the head end. At the head end, these data selection instructions are routed to the central computer, where they Qre decoded.
The central computer locates the selected data, either in its own internal data sources or in an external dsta source, if one is available to the system. The central computer then retrieves the dQta from the source, decodes it to a "scenel' if it is teletext, formats it for display on a television set, ~nd, if necess~ry, ~ttaches ~n identifying number to the dsta. This number will be used by the control station to determine whether to extract the data from the trunk, which subscriber requested the inform~tion, ~nd, therefore, at which dedicated UHF

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frequency to transmit it along the feeder cable. Finally, the central computer sends the selected data to the head end, where it is transmitted along the trunk line to the control station.
At the head end, data may be stored either in digital form, or, especia~ly in the case of still slides, in analog form. The system has the option of ~ransmitting the selected material along ~he trunk line to the control station in either digital or analog form. Digital transmissions can be made distortion-free, while arlalog transmission may be subject to some distortion. Digital transmission is slower (by about a factor of 10). A single television frame in digital form would require a tr~nsmission time of about 1/3 second whereas frames in analog form can be transmitted at a rate of 30 per second. In the preferred embodiment, however, all information is ~ransmitted from the head end to the control station in analog form; consequently, if it is stored as digital data, it must be convQrted to analog by a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The head end uses the analog information to modulate a band of frequencies designated for downstream communication -- the downstreHm channel which is preferably within the VHF range.
At each control station, the identifying numbers corresponding to the data requests of subscribers connected to that particular control station are stored. The data selected by individual subscribers then is ex~acted from the trunk line by a frame grQbber. Each subscriber's data or information, in the form of a television frame, is routed, in accordance with the identifying number, to one of several frame stores at the ~ontrol station. The data ~ame is stored so that it can be continuously transmitted to the subscriber. The information is stored in digital form, converted to analog by a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter, and then used to modulate a ~ique carrier frequency corresponding to the particular subscriber's television se$.
The modulated carrier frequ~ncy occupies e standard UHF
television channel dedic&ted or assigned to a particular subscriber. All subscribers are ~ssigned different UHF television ch~nnels for transmission of information. At the output of the control station5 the carrier modul~ted with the selected data is inserted into the feeder line which servçs the home of the subscriber who requested the data. VHF

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programming and information transmission on dedicated UHF channels occur on the same feeder lines. At the subscriber's terminal, ~ filter is cormected to the subscriber's television set to block all channels except the channels bringing him programming or information. Only V~F programming channels and the dedicated or assigned UHF information channel reach the subscriber's set.
With this invention, the individually assigned subscriber channel can be received on a standard television set. Subscriber terminal costs are limited to a simple keypaà and oscillator, since the bulk of the equipment necessary for information tr~nsmission is located at the common control station. When using a common feeder cable for both television programming and videotext, entry into the house can be made by using a single drop with a splitter at the rear of the television set.
An important advantage of this system in information retrieval is the assurance OI privacy. Because each user has his own private dedicated channel, only the individual requesting information will be able to receive it. Unlike conventional cable television where the cable functions as a "party line,l' here each subscriber has his own private line.
This invention can use either the regul~r cable television feeder line or a sep~rate feeder line. With a separate feeder line, the number of feeder lines from a single control station can be increased and the number of dedicated chAnnels on each line can be increased by using the spectrum from 890 MHz down to 50 MHz for a total of 140 channels per feeder.
Ano~er feature OI this invention is the use of the concept of an inverted spectrum. As previously noted, cable television was forced to use increasingly high frequencies as additional programming services created a demand for more chennels. This use of higher frequencies caused the associated problem OI increased attenuation. The greater the distance these high frequency signals were transported, the greater the signal loss. To avoid this problem, the present invention assigns a 6 MHz channel to each subscriber on an inverted basis. Channel allocations consist of the UHF channels 14 through 83, using the spectrum 470 to 890 MHz. There are 70 ehannels available in this range so that 3~

on a single feeder cable, 70 different subscribers can each be allocated a channel. Using the inver-ted spectrum concept, the subscriber closest -to the control station is assigned the highest channel - 83 (884 to 890 MHz) 5 and the most distant subscriber the lowest - 14 (470 to 476 MHz). This allows the highest -Erequency (subject to the greatest attenua~ion with distance) to be transported the shortest distance. ~herefore, each subscriber receives a clear picture withou-t the need for ampliEiers 10 along the feeder cable.
If subscriber density exceeds 70 homes per mile, then non-standard channel assignments are made in each cable television system on the unused portion of the spectrum until it overlaps the basic system, 15 which will be at about 216 to 300 MHz in current cable systems. Also, as the UHF frequency falls below 470 MHz, a one-channel set-top converter will be required.
Using this distribution pattern, the present invention can accommodate a virtually limitless number of program 20 services since only the program selected by the subscriber need be transported along the feeder to the subscriber's private line.
Various aspects of this invention are as follows:
A method for transmitting video picture inform-ation to a selected one of a plurality of television receivers on a cable distribution system which includes a feeder line connected to the television receivers and a frame store, said method comprising the steps of:
storing the information in the frame store, modulating a carrier frequency with the stored informa tion, said carrier frequency being associa-ted with the selected television receiver;
transmi tting the modulated carrier frequency 35 along the feeder line; and 3~
- 13a -tuning the selected television receiver -to the carrier frequency.

A method for transmi-tting video picture inform-ation to a requesting subscriber's terminal on a cable distribution system which includes a head end, a trunk line connected to -the head end, a plurality of frame stores connected to -the -trunk line, a feeder line connected to the plurality of frame stores, and a plurality of subscriber terminals connected to the feeder line, said method comprising the steps of:
generating a reques-t for the informa-tion at the requesting subscriber's terminal;
receiving the request at the head end;
acquiring the information at the head end;
adding a unique identifying number, associated with the requesting subscriber's terminal, to the inform-ation;
transmitting the information on the trunk line;
storing the information in the frame store;
modulating a carrier frequency, associated with the identifying number, with the information;
transmitting ~he modulated carrier frequency on the feeder line;
tuning the requesting subscriber's terminal to the carrier frequency; and tuning all other subscriber terminals to frequencies other than the carrier frequency.
Other objects and fea-tures of -the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin~s.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows the elec-tromagnetic spectrum from 0 to 300 MHz, giving the allocations of several bands - 13b -and nomenclature of several channels.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art cable television system.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the subscriber terminal of a prior art videotext information sys-tem described above as teletext.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the subscriber terminal of a prior art videotext information system described above as viewdata.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the subscriber terminal of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an entire informa-tion system in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a detailed block diagram of the control station which is a part of the present invention.

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Fig. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a feeder cable system in accordance with the present invention.
Fig. 9 shows details of subscriber drops in the system of the present inYention.
Figs. 10 snd 11 are diagrams of the electromagnetic spectrum from 0 to 890 MHz, showing channe]s available for use with the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a flow diagram for the computer program of the central computer used with this invention.
Fig. 13 is a flow diagram for the computer program of the mini-computer used in ~e control station of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Fig. 1 shows the allocation of YHF broadcast television channels and other radio channels. A eonventional ~able television system delivering stsndard VHF ~hannels and FM radio will transmit the band of frequencies from 54 to 108 MHz and the band 174 to 216 MHz to all subscribers. Subscribers can therefore receive VHF television and FM radio on unmodified receivers. A csble television system using a dediceted channel for each subscriber, such as described in the Nicholson patent, U.S. Patent No. 4,077,006, as well as a system which transmits a greater number of programs than can be shown on the twelve standard VHF channels, will make use not only of these standard channe]s (2 through 13) but also of the midband ~nd superband channels (A through W). Consequently, a cable system which does not give each subscriber 8 dedicated channel can televise 35 programs to sn ~mlimited number of subscribers. On the other hand, the system described in the Nicholson patent can televise an unlimited number of programs to 35 subscribers on each feeder line.
Fig. 2 illustrates a typical cable television system. At the head end 100, equipment is provided to receive incoming television programming by various means or to create locally-originated programs. After amplification and any s~ther necessary signal proc~sing, all ~hannels are transmitted at their original ~requencies, from 54 to 300 MHz, along the trunk line 102. Although only one trunk line is shown, there may be several, depending upon the particular system's design. Trunk lines 102 connect the head end 100 with all bridger amplifiers 104.
The bridger amplifier 104 is a conventional unit (for example, Station SP-2T-2W using two TF-30 high-low split filters, manufactured by Jerrold Electronics Corp. of Philadelphia, Pa.). It amplifies both upstream and downstream signa]s. The upstream signals, if any, will most often be requests by subscribers to view particular programming, although some systems may enable subscribers to send other signals to the head end.
The subscriber's television set 110 is attached to feeder line 106 through any necessary filters and conYerters 107. The set 110 is a standard television receiver able to receive VHF channels 2 through 13 and UHF channels 14 through 83. If programming is to be transmitted along feeder line 106 on other than these stfindard channels, a converter will be necessary.
A subscriber terminal for a videotext information system called teletext is illustrated in Figure 3. Data, as well as normal television programming, is received at the subscriber's antenna 112. Although an individual antenna can be provided for each subscriber, community ~ntennas ~re equally useful with teletext. Television programming is delivered directly to the antenna terminals of the unmodified television set 110. Incoming sign~ls are also sent to ~e decoder and character generator 114.
Because Qll available data is cycled continuously in a teletext system, in order to view a p3rticular ?~ge of data on a television set, the subscriber need only key his request into his keypad 116. This request is processed by the decoder and character generator 114, which selects the requested p~ge from the continuously-transmitted data, decodes it into characters or television d~splay, and sends the characters to the on-channel modulator llB. There? the data is used to modulate the carrier frequency for the television channel on which the subscriber receives data. The data-modulated carrier is then input to the unmodified television set 110, where it is demodulated and the data viewed by the subscriber.
Figure 4 shows ~e subscriber terminal of another type of videotext system called viewdata. Subscribers to viewdata receive information through a dedicated telephone 120, which provides two-way communications with the data source. Requests for in~ormation are typed into a keyboard 122, encoded by the decoder and character generator 124, and modulated for telephone transmission by modem 126.
Requests are then transmitted along telephone lines to the data source, where the requested information is r etrieved and transmitted back to the subscriber. Modem 126 demodulates the incoming data, and decoder and character generator 124 decodes it into char~cters which are then displayed on the subscriber's television set 128. The viewdata television set 128 is a modified set, including the decoder and character generator 124 and the modem 126.
The subscriber terminal of the present invention is shown in block diagram form in Fig. 5 and is generaLly identified by reference number 129. Coaxial cable 130 is a feeder line in a cflble television system which carries television programming to the subscriber's unmodified television set 110. A bandpass filter 132 is interposed between cable 130 and television set 110 to block all frequencies except the subscriber's dedicated UHF information channel. For television program reception a parallel VHF bandpass filter 108 would be included.
The subscriber wishing to view information first types an "all clear" signal ~nto the keypad unit 134. Keypad unit 134 ~ontains a small memory and an oscillator in ~ddition to the keypad. If the keypad is, for example, the stand~rd twelve-button numerical type, the Qll CleRr signal may be a single keystroke on one of the two non-numerical buttons. This sign~l clears the keypad's memory and prepares it to receive a new data requestO Nelct, the subscriber keys in the cat~logue number indicating which data is to be displayed on his television. (He may obtain this number, for example, from a printed catalogue distributed by the cable system operator; or the catalogue itself may be svailable electronic~lly, by way of the information system of the present invention.) As the catalogue number is entered, it is stored in the memory. When the entire number has been stored, the subscriber types in a "transmit"
signal (which, once again, may be one of the two nvn-nurnerical buttons on a twelve-button keyp~d), c~using the data request, which is msde up of the catalogue number, pl~ a station identification number which has 6~3Z

been preset within the keypad, to be tr~nsmitted as a radio-frequency pulse train to the control station. Transmission of the pu]se train is accomplished at the radio frequency of the keypad's oscillator, which operates on a return channel (a band of frequencies designated for upstream transmission) preferably within the range from 6 to 30 MHz.
Many keypad oscillators may operate on the s~me return channel. A
low-p~ss filter 136 at tlhe output of keypad unit 134 ensures that only signals below 30 MHz are passed to the cable 130, thus preventing interference with television programming ~nd dsta being transmitted ~long the cable.
Figure 6 shows the cable television system of Fig. 2 modified in ~ccordance with the present invention to deliver selected data to subscribers over dedic~ted UHF television channels. A subscriber selects data to be viewed on his television set by generating data selection instructions as described above in connection with Fig. 5. The instructions are transmitted from subscriber terminal 129 along the feeder line 106 back to the bridger amplifier 104 and control station 140. The control station, whose operation will be described in greater detail below, demodulates the data request and stores both the station identification number and the catalogue number of the data. At the same time, the data request also passes through the bridger amplifier 104 which amplifies it and switches it onto trunk line 102 which carries it to the head end 100.
At the head end, central computer 138 demodulates and stores ~e data selection instructions. Computer 138 locates the selected data using its caWogue number by searching either the c-)mputer's own internal data sources, or external sources connected to the system. The catalogue number is used to refer to Q directory which the computer 138 calls up from, for example, magn2tic disc storage. Such indirect ~ddressing allows more flexibility in the operation of the system. Internal data sources may be, for example, magnetic disc and tape 137~ or still pictures in the form of slides 139. The data retrievable by this system may be stored in either snalog or digital form. After locating and copying the selected data, central computer 138 decodes it, if it is stored as teletext (in digital îorm), to ~n analog (NTSC) "scene,i' and 3~

arranges it in the proper format for display on a television screen. If it is already stored in anAlog form, the decoding is unnecessary. Data stored in the computer's loe~1 sources will preferably be stored with the catalogue number already in the s~ertical blanking interval (VBI). If it is not there, the central eomputer 138 inserts the catalogue number into the VBI before transmission. Although in the preferred embodiment the VBI is used to carry the catalogue number, it will be appreciated that this number m~y be placed anywhere in the transmission. The selected data and its catalogue number are then sent to the head end 100 which transmits them the appropriate number of times along the trunk line 102 to the bridger amplifier 104 and control station 140.
Although in the preIerred embodiment the station identifieQtion number is not used by central computer 138 to control data flow, because the catalogue number is used by the control station 140 to determine which subscriber should receive the data, it is possible for computer 138 to make use of the station identification number in other ways. For example, it may be used by the computer to determine which control station 140 requested the data snd thereupon to attach to the data qn additional signal which will "alert" that control station to the fact that data is arriving for one of its subscribers. Also, whereas in the preferred embodiment all requested information is transmitted along all trunk lines, the station identification number may be used to select the proper trunk line for d~ta transmission, thereby reducing unnecessary traffic on the other lines. Furthermore, if it is desired to ~harge subscribers for data requests, or if statistics OI such requests are to be kept, the station identification number will be needed by central computer 138. Head end 100 need transmit a black-~nd-white frame only once. If it is transmitting a color frame, that need be transmitted only once if a frame grabber is used which will grab a single color frame. However, with the particular frame grabber used in this system, color frames must be tr~nsmitted three times becsuse the presently ~vailable frame grabber grabs the three colors serially.
Referring now to Fig. 7, a control station 140 is associated with each bridger amplifier 104 to direct selected data to the proper subscriber. Each control station 140 includes an upstream demodulator ~21~3~

14~, a downstream demodulator 144, a frame grabber 146, a mini~omputer 148, several frame stores 150 (each of which includes ~ digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 152), and a modulator 154 for each subscriber. Also p~rt of the control station are two switching circuits controlled by the mini-computer, one switching circuit 156 determining which frame store receives the output of the frame grabber, and the other 158 determining to which modulator the output of the frame stores is sent. The number of frame stores 150 included in the eontrol station 140 need not be RS
large as the number of modulators; only enough frame stores are needed to handle the peak volume of data requests.
Upstream demodulator 142, which is a conventional unit, receives and demodulates d~ta requests from subscribers on a return channel within the range of 6 to 30 MHz. When the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) of mini-computer 148 detects an output from demodulator 142, it stores it in the mini-computer's RAM. This information, it will be recalled, consists of a station identification number and a catalogue number. The catalogue number in the RAM will be compared by the mini-computer to the catalogue numbers in all of the VBl's of frames arriving on trunk line 102. If a match is found, the fr~me will be grabbed. The station identificAtion number will be used by the mini-computer to direct ~he output of the appropriate frame store 150 to the proper subscriber's modulator 154, by controlling switchislg circuit 158.
All analog frames arriving at ~ontrol station 140 from trunk line 102 on the VHF downstream channel Qre demodula$ed by downstream demodulator 144, also a conventional unit. From there, they are sent to both the mini computer 148 and the frame grabber 146. In the absence of instruction from mini~omputer 148, switching circuit 156 is open with respect to all frame stores 150, and the frame gr~bber 146 does not grab frames. Mini-computer 148 examines every VBI, comparing the catalogue numbers in the intervals to l~e catalogue numbers stored in its R.9M. Whenever a mQtch is found, ~he mini~omputer 148 signals frame grabber 146 to retrieve the demodul~ted frame and at the same time operates switching circuit 156 so as to direct the frame with that catalogue number to one of the frame stores 150. Also at the same ~,Z~ 3~

time, the mini-computer operates switching circuit 158, in accordance with the station identification number stored along with the catalogue number, so as to direct the output sf the same fFPAme store to the modulator 154 corresponding to the subscriber who requested the data.
The frame grabber is released to enable it to grab subsequent frames.
Because the frame stores 150 store frames in digital form in RAMs, whereas only analog information can be received on subscribers' television sets, a D/A converter 152 is a p~rt of each frame store 150 and causes the digitally-stored frame to be converted to analog form before being output. In order to make the frames available to the frame stores 150 in digital form, frame grabber 1-16 includes an A/D
converter at its input.
Analog data is then used by each modulator 154 to modulate a ~ique UHF carrier frequency associated with the television set of the subscriber who requested the data. The modulated carrier occupies a channel of frequencies adjacent the carrier frequency corresponding to the subscriber's dedicated llHF television channel.
The d~ta, in the form of a modulated UHF carrier, then is sent to combiner 160 where it is combined with VHF signals which are also traveling downstream and placed on feeder line 106 for reception by the requesting subscriber.
The frame grabber 146 is a commercially-available device manufactured by Matrox Electronic Systems, Ltd., Montreal, Que. It is capable of grabbing a color frame and outputeing it in real time, although it stores the three colors serially and sep&rately. The Matrox frame grabber includes the necessary A/D converter, logic, and memory to perform its functions. Switching circuits 158 and 158 may be, for example, conYentional crossbar switching arrangements using pen diodes ss the individual switches. The ~ontrol station's mini~omputer, slthough not itself a conventional unit, is built in a conventional manner from standard logic ~nd memory cards.
At ePAch subscriber location, as shown in Fig. 5, one or more bandpass filters ~re connected between the feeder line 106 and the television set 110. If television programming is to be received on a dedicated VHF channel, a YHF bandpass filter 108 is included. To IL 6 ~ 3 ~

receive selected d~ta on a dedicated llHF channel, the subscriber will require a UHF bandpass filter 132. These UHF bandpass filters block all freguencies except the UHF channel assigned or dedicated to the particular subscriber.
Subscribers to the cable television information system of the present invention are able to receive selected data on a standard, unmodified television set 110, as long as the set is able to receive UHF
channels 14 through 83 (470 to 890 MHz). ln order to reeeive information which hss already been requested and is being transmitted along the feeder line, the subscriber must tune his television set to his dedicated UHF channel. If it is tuned to any other UHF channel, bandpass filter 132 will bloek any signals which may be arriving on that channel, and the television set will receive nothing. Only when the subscriber's television set 110 is tuned to his dedicated UHF information channel will selected data be received.
If the number of subscribers on a given feeder line exceeds 70, the number of standard UHF channels, more subscribers can be added to the same feeder line by using non-standard UHF channels and even extending the spectrum into the VHF range. In Fig. 8, for example, an embodiment of this invention is shown in which 1400 subscribers are served by a single bridger amplifier and control station~ If all of the fre~uencies from 50 through 890 MHz are allocated to dedicated information channe]s, 140 6-MHz chsnnels are ~vailable for assignment to subscribers. Using ten feeder lines and eonnecting 1~0 subscribers to each, 1400 subscribers can be served. It should be emphasized, however, that television programming could not be received on standard VHF channels in this embodiment without the use of separate feeder lines for programming. Here, all channels from 50 to 890 MH~ are dedicated to information; the stendard VHF television channels fsll within ~is range (see Fig. 1) and therefore would be used for data reception rather than programming. Separate feeder lines 106 must be used for television program mingO
Fig. 9 shows the choice between using one or two feeder lines 106 -- one of the feeder lines is shown as fl dashed line and the other as a solid line. In systems using a single feeder line 106 for both data 6~3~

and television programming ("same feeder" systems), the dashed feeder line would not be present. Both feeder lines would be present in systems using æparate feeder lines 106 for data and programming ("separate feeder" systems).
Fig. 9 also illustrates the inverted spectrum feature of this invention. Bandpass filter 136, which is connected between the feeder line 106 and the television set 110 belonging to subscriber A, is tuned to UHF channel 83, the highest-frequency UHF channel, becfluse subscriber A is located closer to the bridger amplifier and control station than any other subscriber. Because higher frequency signals attenuate to a much greater degree with distance along the feeder line than lower frequency signals, channels of descending frequency are all~cated to subscribers of increasing distance from the bridger amplifier and control station. Since subscriber B is more distant than subscriber A from the bridger amplifier and control ststion, it is assigned a lower frequency UHF channel, channel 82. Subscriber C, farther still, has UHF channel 81. A similar allocation of channels is made for the remainder of the subscribers connected to feeder line 106.
Set-top converters 162, which are also shown in Fig. 8, are used whenever the subscriber's dedicated information channel (or television programming channel) is not one of the standard VHF or UHF television channels 2 through 83. In that case, an unmodified television set 110 is unable to receive the dedicated channel unl~;s it is converted to one of the standard challnels. Each subscriber's converter 162 need only convert one channel--his dedicated channel to a standard television channel (two eonverters would be required, o course, if both the subscriber's dedicated information channel and his dedieated programming channel were non-standard).
In Figs. 10 and 11, the number of available channels in the same Ieeder system of Figure 9 is compared to the number of available channels in the sepRrate feeder system by showing the allocation of the electromagnetic spectrum. In both figures, shsded areas are those channels for which a set-top converter 162 is required. ln Fig. 10, the cross-hatched area ~labelled "possible overlap") indicates ehannels which may or may not already be dedicated to television programming in the 33~

particular cable television system under consideration. If dedicated to programming, they are unavailable for data transmission. There are 42 possible channels between 216 and 470 MHz. In ~ 21-channel cable television system, none of these are used for programming, so all 42 could be dedicated to data. A 35-channel cable television system adds 14 programming channels to the 21-channel systern by using the VHF
frequencies from 216 to 300 MHz. In such a system, only 28 information chennels would be available below 470 MHz. The area labelled "overlap with entertainment" indicates ~hannels which normally would be used for programming in any given cable television system. There is no possible overlap with entertainment in separate feeder systems (as shown in Fig.
11).
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the program steps performed by central computer 138 and mini-computer 148, respectively, during the operation of the invention.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various changes or modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invesltion. For example, the highest frequency used for dedicated subscriber channels should not be considered as limited to UHF channel 83 (884 to 890 MHz) but may be as high as the state of the art will allow.

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A method for transmitting video picture inform-ation to a selected one of a plurality of television receivers on a cable distribution system which includes a feeder line connected to the television receivers and a frame store, said method comprising the steps of:
storing the information in the frame store, modulating a carrier frequency with the stored information, said carrier frequency being associated with the selected television receiver;
transmitting the modulated carrier frequency along the feeder line; and tuning the selected television receiver to the carrier frequency.

2. A method for transmitting video picture inform-ation to a requesting subscriber's terminal on a cable distribution system which includes a head end, a trunk line connected to the head end, a plurality of frame stores connected to the trunk line, a feeder line connected to the plurality of frame stores, and a plurality of subscriber terminals connected to the feeder line, said method comprising the steps of:
generating a request for the information at the requesting subscriber's terminal;
receiving the request at the head end;
acquiring the information at the head end;
adding a unique identifying number, associated with the requesting subscriber's terminal, to the inform-ation;
transmitting the information on the trunk line;
storing the information in the frame store;
modulating a carrier frequency, associated with the identifying number, with the information;

transmitting the modulated carrier frequency on the feeder line;
tuning the requesting subscriber's terminal to the carrier frequency; and tuning all other subscriber terminals to frequencies other than the carrier frequency.