Patent GB-976254-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to registering systems for toll television and other consuming apparatus
IPC: H04N7/173
Filed: 1962-05-28
Abstract: 976,254. Electric selective signalling. PHILIPS ELECTRONIC & ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES Ltd. May 28,1962 [May 31, 1961], No. 20429/62. Heading G4H. A system for registering the period of operation of a number of units of consuming apparatus includes a central station which emits a starting signal down each of a plurality of telecommunication channels in sequence, to start a clock in each unit which operates to send an announcing signal during a time interval individually allotted to that unit, to the central station where it is converted into counting pulses and counted by a counter individual to the concerned unit. In the consuming apparatus (Fig. 2) a television TV either receives a programme via an antenna 15 or one of a number of programmes on a wire 11 according to the setting of arcs S 1 , S 2 , S 3  of a selector switch, e.g. position 4 corresponds to a programme sent on a line r from the central station (Fig. 2). A starting signal detector SD is earthed via the arc S 3 , and thus rendered sensitive, and contacts S 1 , S 2 , S 3  close to supply power to the set via a thermal relay Th. R which closes a contact thr when the set has warmed up. On reception of a starting signal from the central apparatus, sent periodically together with a programme on a line S 1 , the detector SD switches a contact sr to a position 2 to start an individual clock IK and a contact cr to position 1, A disc B rotates and after a time individual to that apparatus a hole in the disc aligns with a lamp L 1 . A receiver R 1  sends a pulse to an announcing signal generator MG and to a monostable circuit MS, which circuit enables a confirmation signal detector CD and a counter T 0  for a short period within the time interval allotted to the unit. The pulse to the generator MG is converted into a signal whose frequency depends on the setting of the arc S 2  and the pulse is sent back along the line S to the central station, which station returns a confirmation signal followed by a counting signal. The confirmation signal is detected at CD, switching the contact cr to position 2, and the counting signal steps counter T 0  to indicate to the consumer the extent of his bill. After further rotation of the disc B a pulse from a receiver R 2 , differentiated at DK, energizes one or other of two coils 1 and 2 of a relay DR, according to the position of the contact cr, to set a contact dr in the corresponding position. Position 2 is selected to connect the programme to the television via a terminal 11 if the confirmation signal has been given. This pulse also passes through a coil 1 of relay SR to trip contact sr back to position 1, and thus switch off the clock IK. A relay VR having contacts vr 1 , vr 2 , vr 3  ensures that the disc B completes a revolution. The above operations then repeat with the contact dr remaining in position 2 provided a confirmation signal is received each cycle. The central station includes a central clock CK which produces 6 pulses a minute on a line b and 480 pulses a minute on a line c. The pulses on the line b step arcs P 1 , P 2 , P 3  of a selector switch through six positions corresponding to six groups of eighty units, each connected to the central station on a group line I-VI. The latter pulses sense a starting signal generator SG to send a starting signal simultaneously to every member of a group for each position of the switch arc P 1 . When an announcing signal is received from a unit, the address of which is determined by the position of the switch arcs Q 1 -Q 7 , of that group, a circuit FS orders a confirmation signal to be produced at CG and return through a stop V 1 -V 480  corresponding to that unit. The circuit fs also puts an output on one of four lines g,f, e, d according to the frequency of the announcing signal. A pulse generator TS sends pulses, to a counter Z 1 -Z 4  which records the aggregate viewing time of one of the four programmes, to a counter T 1 -T 480  individual to that unit which counter records the amount due, and also to a circuit TG which converts them into suitable form and transmits them to the counter T 0  of the individual apparatus. Plugs U 1 -U 480 , V 1 -V 480  may be withdrawn to cut out individual consumers in the case of non-payment. The central apparatus may be replaced by electronic equipment in which the counters are replaced by clock controlled magnetic core storage units. In other forms of consuming apparatus not described the selector switch is used to vary the amount of power consumed.