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Title: Emergency civil defense alarm and communications systems
Claims: I claim: 1. In a television communication system, a method for pre-empting the normal distribution of television signals from a television signal sending station to television receivers over a plurality of channels, said method comprising the steps of: a. generating, at a control station remote from said television signal sending station, an interrupt signal and transmitting said interrupt signal to said television sending station to cause said television signal station to interrupt the normal distribution of television signals over said plurality of channels; b. receiving, at said television signal sending station, said interrupt signal, and in response thereto, interrupting the normal distribution of television signals over said plurality of channels; c. generating, at said control station, selected television signals and transmitting said selected television signals to said television signal sending station; and d. receiving, at said television signal sending station, said selected television signals and distributing said selected television signals over each of said plurality of channels to said television receivers. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of said plurality of channels is dedicated for the transmission of signals from said control station to said television signal sending station. 3. In a cable television system wherein plural television signals are respectively received for normal distribution to television receivers, over respective channels assigned thereto, an apparatus for pre-empting said distribution of television signals to said receivers comprising; first means, located at a control station, remote from the cable television distribution system, for generating an interrupting signal and for supplying said interrupting signal to said cable television distribution system to cause said cable television distribution system to interrupt the normal distribution of said television signals over said respective channels, and for generated and supplying to said cable television distribution system selected television signals; and second means responsive to said interrupting signal and coupled directly to said cable television distribution system, for causing said distribution system to supply said selected television from said first means over each of said channels to said television receivers. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first means includes means for interrupting said normal distribution for only an adjustable period of time and for causing said second means to supply said selected television signals to said television receivers only during said period of time. 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second means includes means for dedicating a prescribed one of said channels for the transmission of signals from said first means at said control station to said second means at said cable television distribution system. 6. In a television communication system, an apparatus for pre-empting the transmission of television signals from a television signal sending station to television receivers, said apparatus comprising: first means, located at a prescribed transmission station, for selectively generating a prescribed interrupt signal to be transmitted to a television signal sending station; second means, located at said prescribed transmission station and being coupled to said first means, for transmitting said prescribed interrupt signal to said television signal sending station; third means, located at said television signal sending station, for enabling the normal transmission of a plurality of television signals over a plurality of different channels to said television receivers by way of said sending station, and for interrupting said normal transmission of said plurality of telvision signals over each of the channels capable of being received by said television receivers upon receipt of said interrupt signal from said second means; fourth means, located at said prescribed transmission station, and being coupled to said second means for generating selected television signals representative of prescribed video and audio information to be supplied to said second means for transmission by said second means to said television signal sending station; and fifth means, located at said television signal sending station and being coupled to said third means, for receiving said selected television signals and for causing said third means to transmit said selected television signals to said television receivers over each of said channels; whereby the normal transmission of plural television signals over said pulrality of different channels to said receivers by way of said sending station is pre-empted by the transmission of said selected television signals from said prescribed transmission station. 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said third means includes a signal decoder responsive to said interrupt signal from said second means, and a first switching circuit coupled thereto, said first switching circuit normally coupling television signals for transmission over the respective channels assigned thereto to said receivers and, in response to a switching signal from said decoder, upon its receipt of an interrupt signal, preventing the normal coupling of television signals for transmission over said respective channels. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said fifth means includes a multi-channel modulator, which receives said selected television signals and couples said selected television signals by way of said first switching circuit over each of said respective channels. 9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first means includes means for permitting the transmission of said selected television signals by said second means for only an adjustable prescribed period of time and, subsequent to said prescribed period of time, enabling the reoccurrence of said normal transmission by said second means. 10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said third means includes a signal decoder responsive to said interrupt signal from said second means, and a first switching circuit coupled thereto, said frist switching circuit normally coupling television signals for transmission over the respective channels assigned thereto to said receivers and, in response to a switching signal from said decoder, upon its receipt of an interrupt signal preventing the normal coupling of television signals for transmission over said respective channels. 11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fifth means includes a multi-channel modulator, which receives said selected television signals and couples said selected television signals by way of said first switching circuit over each of said respective channels. 12. An apparatus according to claim 11, further including sixth means, located at said prescribed transmission station and coupled to receive television signals being distributed at said television signal sending station, for presenting an indication of said selected television signals, being transmitted to said television receivers, thereby permitting the remote monitoring of the transmission of said selected television signals. Other info: Inventors: Meadows, Talmadge W. (Decatur, AL, US) Application Number: 512968 Filing Date: 1974-10-07 Publication_date: 1976-08-17 Assignee: First National Bank of Decatur, Alabama (Decatur, AL) Primary Class(es): 348/460 348/484, 725/33, 725/36 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Griffin, Robert L. Assistant Examiner: Ng, Jin F. Attorney: Craig & Antonelli |
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