Ned Cogswell

US Patent:

43319742, May 25, 1982

Filed:

Oct 21, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/199256

Inventors:

Ned W. Cogswell - Salisbury MD
Gerald J. Eskin - Iowa City IA
W. Andrew Wright - Bethlehem PA

Assignee:

Iri, Inc. - Chicago IL

International Classification:

H04N 710

US Classification:

358 86

Abstract:

A signal substitution system for cable television applies substitute television program signals in at least one substitute channel to the transmission cable along with singal substitution control signals. The signal substitution control signals include a plurality of different terminal command signals and a plurality of different event command signals, each of the terminal command signals including a respective panelist address signal for identifying a respective panelist receiving station, and each of the event command signals including a normal channel identification signal for identifying a normal channel into which a substitute television program is to be switched. A controller at each panelist receiving station responds to the signal substitution control signals by selectively switching a substitute television program into a normal channel. The controller includes a generator of a local panelist address signal and a substitute channel selector for producing a substitute channel select signal corresponding to a substitute channel. A first comparator compares the received panelist address signal of each terminal command signal with the local panelist address signal and produces a first match signal when the signals match.