The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 1989
Filed:
Oct. 20, 1988
Carl F Schoeneberger, Carrollton, TX (US);
Allan B Bundens, Carrollton, TX (US);
General Instrument Corporation, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A data communications system utilizes computer control at central and remote locations to provide general data acquisition and control functions as part of a cable television network. The data system includes a central data processor communicating with a plurality of remote data processors, each of which in turn interrogates, monitors and controls a plurality of groups of remote terminal unit. Each terminal unit includes a variety of security monitoring devices as well as other data generating apparatus useful in process control and data retrieval functions. Each terminal unit communicates with its remote data processor concerning the status of the security devices and receives commands from the remote data processor to carry out data acquisition and control functions including controlling access to the cable television network by the terminals. The remote data processors communicate with the terminal units utilizing both time and frequency division multiplexing in a frequency shift key mode. Communication between the remote data processor and the home terminals is preferably on the coaxial cable utilized for transmitting commercial programming for the television network. The central data processor includes a minicomputer interfacing with input/output devices and external data links. Each remote data processor includes a microcomputer having input/output devices attached thereto and interfacing between the minicomputer and the remote terminal units.