Patent · US Expired

Telecommunications signaling arrangements for terminals without signaling capability

US5631903A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
4References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 1995
Grant dateMay 20, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N7/17318
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement for generating and receiving standard telecommunications network signals on behalf of a terminal not equipped to generate or receive such signals. A controller shared by a plurality of such terminals receives signals from these terminals over a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) and uses the information received over the PVC to perform signaling. In a specific embodiment, the terminals are set top boxes, connected to a video cable, for controlling television sets. The controller controls signaling for establishing connections between the set top box and a video vendor system, and tunes the set top box to receive signals on the proper channel. Advantageously, such an arrangement significantly reduces the cost of the set top box while still allowing for a highly flexible signaling arrangement to the video vendor system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.