Telaction Corporation

Mcc Powers

Kenneth P Belau

Steven D Wilson

Karl W McCalley

James L Fischer

Roderick J Dougherty, Jr

Robert L Old, Jr

Darrell N Chelcun

A presentation player is described for use in an interactive digital communications system which may selectively communicate particular multimedia presentations to each of a plurality of subscribers along a CATV cable network, or other communications network. The player is part of a digital interactive system that distributes information representing requested presentations in the form of digital data on distribution channels to a plurality of presentation players located along the communications network. Each of the subscribers has a television set connected to one of these presentation players. The digital data is uniquely addressed to a particular subscriber and is processed by his corresponding presentation player to produce analog TV signals comprising the multimedia presentation. The presentation player automatically tunes itself to a distribution channel and can process data which include motion video sequences, background music, and real-time live video images, in addition to still-video images with audio commentary. The presentation player of the present invention comprises a converter capable of receiving the distribution channel frequencies and selecting one of those frequencies for further processing of digital data transmitted thereon.

Presentation player for an interactive digital communication system

An improved distribution system for use in supervising and controlling temperature and other environmental conditioning equipment of a building or the like is disclosed. The distribution system is used in conjunction with a host or central computer. The distribution system includes one or more distribution panels which communicate with the host computer as well as with various control point apparatus that gather temperature, humidity, and other types of values, or gather status information regarding electrical switch states and the like. Other types of control point apparatus control electric motor starters, motors, or other control equipment for controlling environmental conditions or general energy use. The distribution panels have various function means therein which are capable of receiving digital input signals, providing digital output signals to control point apparatus, receiving frequency analog input signals, pneumatic analog input and output signals, and the like. The function means have the capability of being uniquely characterized with respect to the type of operation that is to be performed and certain function means can also be characterized to selectively provide change of value reporting to the central computer as well as significant change of value reporting. Moreover other function means can be characterized to provide output signal levesl or output pulses depending upon the characterization and such characterization is accomplished by an operator at the central or host computer with no switching or other manipulation being required at the distribution panel.

Characterizable distribution means in a supervisory and control system

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Kenneth P Belau