Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Smart Vcr Limited Partnership

Triada, Ltd.

Other

Gemstar Developement Corporation

James T Russo

Michael R Levine

Victor H Rigotti

Nicholas Skogler

Anthony C Cairo

Joseph M Bugajski

Thomas J Beckey

Lorne W Nelson

Matthew B Levine

Roger Clark

A stored program pay-per-play system includes a high-capacity storage medium facilitating compilation of video, audio or other programs at a subscriber's site. While the recording of such programs may take place at any time preceding playback, billing occurs only when, and if, the subscriber chooses to select a program for replay or actually enjoys the program substantially in its entirety. Billing is alternatively based on a store-credit or account debiting scheme. The recording of program materials may be directed automatically by subscriber-operated storage management facilities which scan program schedules and select materials to be recorded, based on title, cast, program genre or any other of a variety of viewer/listener preferences. Alternatively, the program provider may automatically download programs, either based upon actual or surmised viewer preferences, or at the provider's discretion, for example, using newly-available selections. Display generation circuitry is preferably implemented, enabling the viewer to review selections to be downloaded, those selections available for immediate replay, remaining account balance, and other features, including 'parental lockout' and so forth.

Stored program pay-per-play

A stored program pay-per-play system includes a high-capacity storage medium facilitating compilation of video, audio or other programs at a subscriber's site. While the recording of such programs may take place at any time preceding playback, billing occurs only when, and if, the subscriber chooses to select a program for replay or actually enjoys the program substantially in its entirety. The program provider may automatically download programs, either based upon actual or surmised viewer preferences, or at the provider's discretion, for example, using newly-available selections. Display generation circuitry is preferably implemented, enabling the viewer to review selections to be downloaded, those selections available for immediate replay, remaining account balance, and other features, including &ldquo;parental lockout&rdquo; and so forth.

A video time-shifting system characterized in having a continuous recording track accessed by separate, asychronous read and write facilities enables playback of a video program to commence from any point in the program while continuing to be recorded in real time, thus providing VCR-like program control features such as PAUSE/RESUME, REWIND, and FAST FORWARD. A memory is used to store information relating to various points in the program so that even upon receipt of multiple PAUSE commands, the system automatically keeps track of correct program re-entry. In the preferred embodiment, the storage means takes the form of a continuous recording track in a magnetic disk drive. To prevent discontinuities associated with the recording and reproducing of material representative of the video program, the system preferably incorporates a plurality of write heads, each associated with a different recording track, and the system automatically switches from one write head to another so as to effectively link the different recording tracks into a single, continuous recording track. Although program information may be stored in analog form, digital storage is used in the preferred embodiment along with data compression to increase recording capacity. The system preferably further includes a video display generator to output for viewing on the display device visual indicia relating to the program and, additionally, symbols relating to one or more points in the program and/or the time-shifted version thereof.

Video time-shifting apparatus

The compression system includes a series of pipelined data processors. Each processor has an associated memory. The body of digital data is applied serially to the first processor in the chain. The first processor analyzes pairs of data elements in its incoming signal to detect the occurrence of previously non-occurring sequences and stores those sequences in its associated memory. The output signal from the processor identifies the storage position in its associated memory of each pair of data elements in its input, whether or not those sequences have previously occurred in the data stream. Subsequent processors work with storage location signals only. Each processor provides a single output location signal for each pair of signals in its input. Each processor also determines the number of times that each incoming sequences has occurred and stores that number in association with each stored pair. A hashing table created by each processor and stored in its associated memory is used to segregate the stored pairs into groups having common lower significant figures to simplify the task of determining whether a pair of elements in the input has previously been stored. Pointers stored with each unique pair link the pairs in each hashed sequence in the order of their frequency of occurrence in the incoming data stream so that the incoming elements may be compared with the previously stored elements in the order of probability of occurrence of each pair in the data stream.

Data compression with pipeline processor having separate memories

The compression system includes a series of piplined data processors. Each processor has an associated memory. The body of digital data is applied serially to the first processor in the chain. The first processor analyzes pairs of data elements in its incoming signal to detect the occurrence of previously non-occurring sequences and stores those sequences in its associated memory. The output signal from the processor identifies the storage position in its associated memory of each pair of data elements in its input, whether or not those sequences have previously occurred in the data stream. Subsequent processors work with storage location signals only. Each processor provides a single output location signal for each pair of signals in its input. Each processor also determines the number of times that each incoming sequence has occurred and stores that number in association with each stored pair. A hashing table created by each processor and stored in its associated memory is used to segregate the stored pairs into groups having common lower significant figures to simplify the task of determining whether a pair of elements in the input has previously been stored. Pointers stored with each unique pair link the pairs in each hashed sequence in the order of their frequency of occurrence in the incoming data stream so that the incoming elements may be compared with the previously stored elements in the order of probability of occurrence of each pair in the data stream.

Data compression with pipeline processors having separate memories

The present invention is a technique for a defrosting operation of a heat pump. External air provides the heat for defrosting the exterior heat exchanger by operating the exterior fan during times when the compressor is not operating, the temperature of the exterior heat exchanger is below freezing and the exterior air temperature is above freezing. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the temperature of the exterior heat exchanger and the exterior are measured via separate temperature sensors. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the exterior heat exchanger temperature is measured via a single temperature sensor and the exterior fan is operated for a predetermined interval of time after the compressor is stopped. Thereafter the exterior fan is operated only so long as the temperature remains at freezing. In a still further embodiment, the exterior fan is operated only so long as it remains less than or equal to freezing and does not reach a plateau at less than freezing. The operation of the exterior fan after deactuation of the compressor may be inhibited throughout an interval of time, if the plateau temperature was less than freezing.

Heat pump defrosting operation

The present invention is a technique for a defrosting opereation of a heat pump. External air provides the heat for defrosting the exterior heat exchanger by operating the exterior fan during times when the compressor is not operating, the temperature of the exterior heat exchanger is below freezing and the exterior air temperature is above freezing. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the temperature of the exterior heat exchanger and the exterior are measured via separate temperature sensors. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, the exterior heat exchanger temperature is measured via a single temperature sensor and the exterior fan is operated for a predetermined interval of time after the compressor is stopped. Thereafter the exterior fan is operated only so long as the temperature remains at freezing. In a still further embodiment, the exterior fan is operated only so long as it remains less than or equal to freezing and does not reach a plateau at less than freezing. The operation of the exterior fan after deactuation of the compressor may be inhibited throughout an interval of time, if the plateau temperature was less than freezing.

The present invention is an adaptive method and apparatus for detecting the formation of frost in a heat pump. The compressor cycle is interrupted and a defrosting operation is begun if the difference between the exterior ambient temperature and exterior heat exchanger temperature exceeds a difference function of the exterior ambient temperature. The length this defrosting cycle is measured and the difference function is altered if the measured length deviates from a predetermined length of time. The frost formation difference function is initially set as a linear approximation. Thereafter the difference function value at the particular exterior ambient temperature is increased if the length the defrosting is greater than an upper limit value of six minutes and decreased if the length the defrosting is less than a lower limit value of four minutes. In the preferred embodiment, the exterior heat exchanger temperature is measured by a sensor and the exterior ambient temperature is determined once each compressor cycle from this measured temperature.

Heat pump with adaptive frost determination function

The present invention is a method and apparatus for determining the exterior ambient temperature in a heat pump. In accordance with the prior art the heat pump defrosts the exterior heat exchanger if the exterior heat exchanger temperature has a predetermined relationship to the exterior ambient temperature. The exterior heat exchanger temperature is measured directly via a temperature sensor. The improvement of the present invention includes operating the exterior fan after operation of the compressor, while repetitively measuring the temperature of the exterior heat exchanger until reaching a plateau temperature other than freezing. The exterior ambient temperature is set to the plateau temperature. In the event that the plateau temperature equals freezing, the exterior ambient temperature is set equal to a compromise temperature slightly above freezing, preferably 34 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat pump with single exterior temperature sensor

The present invention is a technique for forming a signal representing the operator adjustment of a potentiometer. This technique consists of measuring the reference time constant of the resistance between the fixed terminals of the potentiometer and a capacitor, measuring the variable time constant of the resistance of potentiometer between a fixed terminal and the terminal variable by an operator setting and this same capacitor, and again measuring the reference time constant of the resistance between the fixed terminals of the potentiometer and the capacitor. These time constant measurements are made by discharging the capacitor, charging the capacitor through the appropriate terminal of the potentiometer and measuring the time required for the voltage across the capacitor to reach a predetermined threshold level. This measurement sequence is repeated if the two measures of the reference time constant differ by more than a predetermined amount. The digital ratio of the variable time constant and the reference time constant is then calculated. This digital ratio is the representation of the operator adjustment of said potentiometer.

Potentiometer setting detection by measuring the ratio of RC time

The present invention is a technique for forming a digital signal representing an environmental condition. The technique consists of measuring the variable time constant of an analog sensing device having a variable resistance dependent upon the environmental condition and a capacitor as well as measuring the reference time constant of a precision fixed resistor and the same capacitor. The time constants are measured by discharging the capacitor, charging the capacitor through the appropriate element and measuring the time for the voltage across the capacitor to reach a predetermined level. Lastly, the digital ratio between the two time constants is formed. This digital ratio is the digital representation of the environmental condition sensed by said analog sensing device.

Analog to digital conversion by measuring the ratio of RC time constants

The present invention is a technique for operator entry of a time program into a programmable device. An operator adjustable input device having associated time indicia is employed to enter a time signal indicative of a time a selected time. A manual control state input device enables selection of one a control state. When the programmable device is in a program mode the selected control state is stored in a program memory at a location corresponding to the selected time. This program memory stores a program of control states for particular times. When in a control mode a clock signal indicative of the current time permits recall of the control state for the current time, thus permitting control in accordance with the recalled control state. In accordance with the preferred embodiment the programmable device is an electronic thermostat. The operator adjustable input device enables input of the times for storage of temperature offsets in the program mode and enables input of a set point temperature in the control mode. The thermostat control function seeks to maintain the temperature at the sum of the set point temperature and the temperature offset for the current time.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

James T Russo