Title: Method of and apparatus for establishing emergency communications in a two-way cable television system

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Claims: What is claimed is:

1. A method of establishing emergency communications between a master station and a remote station in a two-way cable television system, which comprises the steps of:

activating an annunciator means at the remote station upon application of a first signal;

connecting power to a television receiver at the remote station upon application of a second signal;

tuning the remote station to a predetermined channel upon application of a third signal;

establishing the first, second and third signals in response to a fourth signal;

conditioning the generation of the fourth signal in response to a coded function signal from the master station; and

generating the fourth signal in response to a coded command signal from the master station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said second signal may be established independently of said fourth signal.

3. An apparatus for establishing emergency communications between a master station and a remote station in a two-way cable television system, which comprises:

annunciator means at the remote station;

means for activating said annunciator means upon application of a first signal;

means for connecting power to a television receiver at the remote station upon application of a second signal;

means for tuning the remote station to a predetermined channel upon application of a third signal;

means for establishing said first, second and third signals in response to a fourth signal;

means for generating said fourth signal;

means responsive to a coded function signal from the master station for conditioning the fourth signal generating means for operation; and

means responsive to a coded command signal from the master station for operating the fourth signal generating means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for generating said fourth signal comprises:

a first register means responsive to a coded interrogation signal for identifying the remote station;

a second register means responsive to said coded function signal for alerting the remote station that a command code will be forthcoming;

resettable bistable means for generating said fourth signal;

decoder means coupled to said first and second register means for enabling said bistable means; and

third register means responsive to a first command signal from said master station for operating said enabled bistable means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said third register means is further responsive to a second command signal for resetting said bistable means to terminate said fourth signal.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for activating said annunciator means is operative for a predetermined time.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said tuning means comprises:

digital-to-analog converter means responsive to a binary-coded-decimal signal for generating an analog voltage in accordance with said binary-coded-decimal signal;

means responsive to said analog voltage for selecting a first predetermined channel from a predetermined bandwidth of television signals from said master station and converting it a second predetermined channel; and

means responsive to said third signal for establishing a predetermined binary-coded-decimal signal input to said digital-to-analog converter means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said power connecting means includes switch means responsive to said second signal.

Other info:

Inventors: Belcher, Brian E. (Dallas, TX, US)
Cambell, John G. (Irving, TX, US)

Application Number: 571536
Filing Date: 1975-04-25
Publication_date: 1976-11-23
Assignee: TOCOM, Inc. (Dallas, TX)
Primary Class(es): 725/33 340/288, 455/526
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3796829	Mar, 1974	Gray	325/308.
3886538	May, 1975	Takeuchi	340/310.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Habecker, Thomas B.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Clegg, Jr.; Giles C.