DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WITH ALARM

Abstract: A system for transmitting information from a remote location (10) to a second location (24) and from the second location via a cable television network (26) to the cable subscribers. The system includes an alarm feature (34) to advise the cable television network subscribers that information is being transmitted even if their television units are not on. The system includes a first data processor (10), which is adapted to receive data from a variety of sources (12, 14, 16) and a plurality of second data processors (22a, 22i). Each of the second data processors (22) is connected to the head end (26) of one local cable television network (26). Information from the first data processor (10) is transmitted to the proper second data processor (22) and thereafter transmitted via the cable (28) to the individual cable television subscribers to display information on their television receivers (30). The system actuates an audible alarm (44) at the television receiver, even if the television is turned off, to indicate that information is being transmitted.

Description: DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WITH ALARM The present invention relates to the transmitting of data or information from a remote location to a second location and from the second location via a cable television network to the cable television subscribers. More specifically, the invention relates to such a system which also provides an alarm to the cable television subscribers indicative that information is being transmitted regardless of whether or not their respective television receivers are in use. Heretofore, it was well-known to transmit information via television, including via cable television networks, with the information being both audible and displayed in text on the television receiver screen. Messages providing emergency information, news information and the like are frequently displayed in this manner. However, prior to the present invention, it was required that the television be in use, i.e., turned on, in order for the television user to be aware that an emergency message was being transmitted. However, the television user is typically adverse to leaving the television receiver "on" at all times because of the expense involved and because of the waste of energy. Furthermore, only information of world-wide, national or regional importance was heretofore transmitted or displayed on television screens. It was not possible, prior to the present invention, to have locally initiated emergency information transmitted to and displayed on television screens in the locality where the emergency was taking place, unless the locality had its own television broadcasting studio. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings by providing a new and improved data or information transmission system including an alarm to indicate that a message is being transmitted, or a system provides for local initiation of information in the absence of a broadcasting studio. The present invention includes a first data processing means which is adapted to receive input information from a variety of sources. The system includes a plurality of second data processing means each of which is connected to the head-end of a cable television network. Upon initiation of a message relevant to a particular locality, the first data processing means transmits the information to the second data processing means for that particular locality. The second data processing means transmits the information to each of the subscriber television receivers connected via the cable head-end and cable television network and also transmits an alarm to a separate receiver at each television unit with the alarm being actuated whether or not the television is on. Thus, residents of a house where a television is "off", will still be alerted that emergency information is about to be transmitted on their television receivers. The numerous benefits and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood upon reading the OMPI following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding parts of the present system: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the overall system for transmitting information from a first data processing means to one or more of a plurality of second data processing means each of which is connected to a local cable television network: and Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the transmission of data from the local cable television network to both the individual television receiver and to the alarm units associated with each television receiver. With reference to Figure 1, the data transmission system with alarm of the present invention is illustrated in block diagram form, including a first data processor means 10 which receives data from one of a variety of data sources. The data sources 12a...12i, are referred to as "local" data sources and may include a number of cities, towns, etc. Data may also be provided by national sources such as the National Weather Service 14, and the National Civil Defense Warning System 16, each of which may transmit emergency information of a local nature. The data processor means 10 may, for example, be an Atari 800 Computer System including an Epson MX70 printer, and may also include a recording device to monitor and log incoming information such as through the use of a Dictaphone Veritrac Recorder. The information may be transmitted to the data processor means 10 via dedicated telephone lines, commercial telephone lines, or other types of transmissions. The output of the OMPI first data processor means 10 is connected through an Atari 850 Interface Unit to a first modem 20 such as a Hayes "Smart Modem" automatic dial/answer modem. The modem 20 is connected via a standard Bell System telephone jack to a telephone line. The system of the present invention further includes a plurality of second data processor means 22a...22i, each of which would be an Atari 400 Computer System, each located at a community served by a cable television system. Each of the second data processors is connected through an Atari 850 Interface Unit to a modem 24 of the type heretofore described and through a jack to the telephone line. Alternatively, the modems 20 and 24 may be handwired to the telephone line terminal block. The output of each of the second data processor means 22 is directly connected to the cable head end 24 via a relay switching reed No. JRE7DBI manufactured by Potter Brumfield. The output of the local cable television network is, of course, the actual cables 28 to each television receiver 30. Figure 2 illustrates an individual local or second data processor means 22 connected to the cable system 26 and the cable 28 to an individual television receiver 30. The present invention includes interposing a signal splitter 32 such as an Archer No. 15-1141 between the cable 28 and the television receiver such that the incoming signal on the cable 28 goes through the splitter 32. One output from the signal splitter goes directly to the television receiver 30 and the other output from the signal splitter is connected to the alarm receiver means 34 of the present invention. The alarm receiver means 34 of the present invention may be a modification of a standard broadcast FM receiver. The standard portion of the receiver 3 includes an autodyne converter 36, which may be tunable or which may have its frequency set by a replaceable crystal, and the converter receives the input from the signal splitter 32. The output of the converter is connected to a standard 10.7 mhz intermediate frequency ceramic filter and amplifier unit 38. The output of the filter and amplifier 38 is connected to an FM detector limiter 40, such as an LM3075, the output of which detector limiter is connected to a high pass filter and audio amplifier 42 and thence to a speaker 44. The standard broadcast receiver is modified as follows. The output from the FM detector-limiter 40 is coupled to a pair of tone detectors, 46, 48 each one of which may be a No. 567 phase lock loop tone detector. The output of each tone detectors is coupled through and AND gate 50 and the output of the AND gate is coupled back to the amplifier 42. The output of the AND gate 50 is also coupled through and LED driver 52 such as a 2N3704 transistor to illuminate a red LED 54. The output of the first tone detector 46 is also coupled to a second LED driver 56, which is also a 2N3704 transistor, and the output of the second LED driver 56 is coupled to a green LED 58. Having thus described the components of the present system, the invention will now be explained in the context of an emergency situation occurring at a specific community where the community desires to have an emergency message transmitted to the cable television subscribers in that community. An authorized person (such as a police chief) within a community contacts, such as by telephone, the first data processing means 10. At the data processing means 10 OMPI all incoming telephone calls are recorded automatically on the Dictaphone Veritrac Recorder. The community from which the police chief is calling has been assigned an identification number such as a four digit number. Each person in the community who is authorized to initiate emergency messages has a second random four-digit authorization code. An operator at the data processor means 10 enters the four digit community identification number, via the computer keyboard, into the data processor 10. The Atari 800 Computer system includes an Atari 810 disc storage and when the community identification number is entered the computer provides data for the community which will include, inter alia, the name of the community, the names of each of the people who are authorized to initiate emergency messages related to that community, and the random 4-digit authorization code number for each such person, thus, the operator at the data processing means 10 verifies that the person calling is authorized to initiate an emergency message. If the person is authorized, the computer operator depresses the "enter" button on the Atari 800 data processing means, the code number of the person calling, and then the operator requests the emergency message. The information or message may be in the nature of a police, fire, public safety or other emergency. For example, a typical message may read: "Policy Emergency - YXZ Township Tank truck overturned Residents living between: Main Street on the South Fourth Street on the West First Street on the East Market Street on the North Should evacuate the area immediately" The computer operator at the data processing means 10 enters the message on the keyboard of the Atari 800. When the message is confirmed as accurate, the operator of the data processing means 10 enters a transmit code. At this time, the Atari 800 of the first data processor means 10 will activate the Hayes "Smart Modem" automatic telephone answering-dial modem 20 which will dial or call-up the local data processor means 22 associated with the community for which the 4-digit identification code has been given. At each local community, each of the second data processing means is connected via another Hayes "Smart Modem" automatic answering/dial telephone modem to a dedicated local telephone line in the community. When the local or resident modem 24 is contacted, it automatically answers the incoming call and connects the first data processor means 10 with the local data processor means 22. Once connected, the data processor 10 automatically transmits the message to the local data processor means 22. A tone may be continuously transmitted by the data processor 22. This tone is detected by the tone detector 46 to illuminate the green LED 58. The green LED being illuminated indicates that the alarm receiver means is in a stand-by mode and that the entire system from the second data processor means to and including alarm receiver means is operational. If neither the green nor the red LED is illuminated then the system is malfunctioning. "gJRΪ3 OMPI Under the control of the first data processor 10, the second or local data processor means 22 takes possession of a specific channel on the cable television system such as the government access channel. A two tone signal is transmitted (e.g. , 853 and 960 mhz) for a 25 second duration. The two-tone signal is detected by detector 48 and this triggers the alarm receiver means to an active mode. Since both detectors 46 and 48 are receiving signals, AND gate 50 is enabled. This illuminates the RED led 58. The system includes an SCR or other conventional means such that once the LED driver 52 is actuated it must be manually reset. The output from the AND gate also enables the audio amplifier 42 and thus the speaker 44 of the receiver means 34. The computer system then generates and transmits an unusual, attention getting sound for a period of a minute or so which will be transmitted through the individual alarm receiver means 34 (similar to a police siren) . Persons in the vicinity of the alarm receiver means are thus alerted to the fact that an emergency message is to be transmitted so that they may turn on their television receivers and tune the channel selector thereon to the government access channel. Then, under control of the first and second data processor means 10, 22, the emergency message is visibly displayed on the television screen. Any audible message is received by both the television receiver and through alarm receiver means 34. The foregoing is a complete description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The present system is computer controlled with a computer program written in Basic language for the Atari and the computer program is attached hereto as an appendix.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A data transmission system including an alarm comprising: a first data processor means: a plurality of second data processor means: said first data processor means selectively transmitting information to one or more of said plurality of second data processor means; said second data processor means for further transmitting any information received from said ' first data processor means via a cable television network to television receivers connected thereto: and alarm receiver means for receiving a signal from said second data processing means and for indicating that information is being transmitted via the cable network. 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first data processor means includes storage means for verifying the authority to transmit information. 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said storage means is also for verifying the specific second data processor means to which the information may be transmitted. 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said second data processor means is connected to the head end of a cable television data processor means is identified by a specific address, and said first data processor means is for transmitting information to the second data processor means corresponding to an address entered into said first data processor means. 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said second data processor means is connected to * the head end of a cable television network. 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 where each of said second data processor means is connected via a cable television network for transmitting both audio and video information via said cable television network. said audio information being transmitted to both said television receiver and said alarm receiver means. 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 where said alarm receiver means is responsive to a predetermined signal to trigger said alarm receiver means from a stand-by mode to an active mode, said active mode for indicating that information is being transmitted. 8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said alarm receiver means is responsive to a predetermined signal for indicating that said alarm receiver means is in a stand-by mode. 9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein the absence of any output from the alarm receiver means is for indicating that at least one part of the system is malfunctioning.

Inventors: VINCENT PAUL DAVID JR, VINCENT, PAUL, DAVID, JR.
Applicants: CAMTAK COMPANY
Application year: 1983
Main classification: H04N7
IPC codes: G08B25, H04N7