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US 4,593,337 AGranted
Video cassette play counting, storing and reading system
AssigneeAlfredo Leone
InventorsAlfredo Leone, Joel B. Snyder
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAlfredo Leone
InventorsAlfredo Leone, Joel B. Snyder
Estimating the term…
A system for counting videotape cassette play includes a counter sealed within the cassette to count plays. A count signal is provided on the tape or a movable part of the cassette. Coded access circuitry allows retrieval of the count. Discrimination circuitry discriminates between a count signal passing an internal head at the slowed play speed, as opposed to the fast-forward and rewind speeds. A rental agent's unit is a decoder that is programmed with the correct digital code word that permits access to the count stored in the cassette's circuitry. A decoding and display circuit converts the count to a visible numeric display for the rental agent. Resetting the cassette's counter is prohibited except in the presence of the digital code word. The count signal can be electromagnetically recorded at a frequency distinct from the audio and video content, can be an opening or transparency optically detectable, can be a reflective segment optically detectable, or a conductive segment bridging contacts that engage the tape. Frequency and duration of the signal provide means to recognize the signal passing the pickup at play speed. Certain embodiments of the system provide further information such as tape source, rental rate, or title. This information is contained in the count signal or in separate memory.
A prerecorded video tape cassette and program play counting combination insertable in and removable from a cassette player, wherein a single play count is representative of a complete play-back of an entire video program, the combination including a tape prerecorded with a video program, means in the cassette for electrically counting plays of the program, means in the cassette for electrically storing a play count counted by the means for counting, and means for protecting the counting and storing means from unauthorized access.
A videotape cassette internal play counting circuit combination including pickup means in the cassette for producing at least one electrical signal representing a single complete play-back of an entire video program on the tape, and electrical counter means in the cassette connected to provide a digital electrical output indication of a counted number of program play-backs in response to signals produced by the pickup means and including means for storing the digital electrical output indication.
A video cassette play count decoding arrangement for use with a cassette having a memory, a counter and coded electrical locking means, other than memory addressing provisions for the memory, for selectively preventing and permitting access, in the absence and presence of a preselected coded signal, respectively, to a play count stored in the memory in the cassette representing a number of tape plays, wherein a single play-count is representative of a complete play-back of an entire video program, the decoding arrangement including terminal means externally accessible of the decoding arrangement and adapted to electrically connect to terminals on a cassette, means for applying an access code to the terminal means corresponding to a code of the coded electrical locking means of the cassette and appropriate to enable access to the play count stored in memory, and display means connected to the terminal means for displaying a play count applied to the terminal means from a cassette.
A video tape cassette and play counting circuit combination including a cassette housing, means defining a path of tape movement along which a tape moves during playing thereof, wherein a single play count is representative of a complete play-back of an entire video program, detection means located in the housing proximate the path of tape movement and responsive to a play count indication of predetermined characteristics on the tape, means in the housing electrically connected to the detection means for producing an electrical play count signal in response to detection of the play count indication on the tape by the detection means and including signal processing means for shaping the count signal, and counting means in the housing connected for generating a count based on the count signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.