IT1272135B - Computer-controlled television installation, particularly for use in hospitals, hotels and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A charging installation or system for charging for the use of television sets in a hospital, hotel or the like includes a computer located in an accounts office and television sets distributed in different rooms. Control signals from the computer, video signals and power for the power supply to the television are all supplied to each television set through a single coaxial cable. Each television set includes a microprocessor, a modulator- demodulator or "modem", and logic circuits which remain active even if a user switches his television receiver off. The computer can take control of any one or more of the television receivers by transmitting a controlled command which, at a specified point in the command, 1 switches on an addressed television receiver if it is off, and 2 tunes the addressed receiver to a specified channel. The controlled commands can be of two types. One type does not allow a user to control the TV receiver, and the other allows a user to turn off the controlled command. Charging data for TV use are stored in the TV set and are transferred to the computer in response to a command from the computer. Charging data in a TV set can be transferred to another set if a user moves from one room to another. In a second embodiment, electrical power is supplied by a conventional AC wall outlet, but in this case the controlled commands are not executed if the television receiver is not plugged into the outlet. <IMAGE>