Video transmission and control system utilizing internal telephone lines

A communications system that includes a network of wiring, a plurality of ports ordinarily used for connection of telephone equipment to said network, and an interface to a telephone system, said ports being located in different areas, said network comprising a plurality of 2-wire conductive paths connecting said ports to said interface, the communications system including a first one of said ports and a first electronic device (1) located in a first area, and a second one of said ports and a second electronic device (15) located in a second area, the system further including an apparatus (2) located in said first area, said apparatus responding to infrared light signals received from an infrared light transmitter for determining operational modes of said apparatus, said apparatus being out of range of said light transmitter when said light transmitter is located in the second area, wherein:

• (a) said second electronic device (15) further includes:
• first converting means for converting infrared light radiation to a first series of electrical impulses,
• first representing means for representing said first series of electrical impulses as a second series of electrical impulses, information content of said second series being substantially the same as the information content of said first series, substantially all of the energy of said second series being concentrated at frequencies above the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, wherein said first representing means includes:
• means for creating a weighted average signal, said weighted average signal being a weighted average of the energy level of said first series of electrical impulses over a preceding time period of predetermined length,
• means for creating a first bi-level signal, said first bi-level signal assuming a high state when the energy level of said first series of electrical impulses exceeds said weighted average signal, said first bi-level signal otherwise assuming a low state,
• means for suppressing noise by creating a second bi-level signal, said second bi-level signal assuming a high state whenever the energy level of said first series of electrical impulses exceeds said weighted average by a fixed factor at any time over a preceding time period of fixed length, said second bi-level signal otherwise assuming a low state, and
• means for providing an RF carrier only when both said first bi-level signal and said second bi-level signal are at the higher of their two said levels;
• said second electronic device (15) further including first transmitting means, connected to said second one of said ports, for transmitting said second series of electrical impulses onto the network, said first transmitting means comprising first filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second series of electrical impulses to transmit substantially unchanged, and wherein
• (b) said first electronic device (1) further includes:
• first recovering means, connected to said first one of said ports, for recovering said second series of electrical impulses from the network wiring, said first recovering means comprising second filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second series of electrical impulses to transmit substantially unchanged,
• second representing means for representing said second series of electrical impulses as a third series of electrical impulses, information content of said third series being substantially the same as the information content of said second series, and
• second converting means for converting said third series of electrical impulses to infrared light radiation, said second converting means creating a light pattern with substantially the same characteristics as the light pattern created by the infrared light radiation in the second area.

A communication system that includes a network of wiring, a plurality of ports ordinarily used for connection of telephone equipment to said network, and an interface to a telephone system, said ports being located in different areas, said network comprising a plurality of 2-wire conductive paths connecting said ports to said interface, the communications system including a first one of said ports and a first electronic device (1) located in a first area, and a second one of said ports and a second electronic device (15) located in a second area, the system further including an apparatus (2) located in said first area, said apparatus responding to infrared light signals received from an infrared light transmitter for determining operational modes of said apparatus, said apparatus being out of range of said light transmitter when said light transmitter is located in the second area, wherein:

• (a) said second electronic device (15) further includes:
• first converting means for converting infrared light radiation to a first series of electrical impulses,
• first representing means for representing said first series of electrical impulses as a second series of electrical impulses, information content of said second series being substantially the same as the information content of said first series, substantially all of the energy of said second series being concentrated at frequencies above the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices,
• first transmitting means, connected to said second one of said ports, for transmitting said second series of electrical impulses onto the network, said first transmitting means comprising first filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second series of electrical impulses to transmit substantially unchanged,
• (b) said first electronic device (1) further includes:
• first recovering means, connected to said first one of said ports, for recovering said second series of electrical impulses from the network wiring, said first recovering means comprising second filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second series of electrical impulses to transmit substantially unchanged,
• second representing means for representing said second series of electrical impulses as a third series of electrical impulses, information content of said third series being substantially the same as the information content of said second series, and
• second converting means for converting said third series of electrical impulses to infrared light radiation, said second converting means creating a light pattern with substantially the same characteristics as the light pattern created by the infrared light radiation in the second area,
• said communications system further comprising a television receiver located in said second area, wherein said apparatus (2) in said first area includes means for supplying a first video signal and wherein:
• (i) said first electronic device (1) in said first area further includes:
• receiving means, connected to said apparatus (2), for receiving said first video signal, and
• signal processing means for providing a second video signal, said second video signal having a higher energy level than said first video signal and substantially the same information content as said first video signal, and
• second transmitting means, connected to said first one of said ports, for transmitting said second video signal onto the network, said second transmitting means comprising third filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• and wherein
• (ii) the electronic device (15) located in the second area further includes:
• second recovering means, connected to said second one of said ports, for recovering said second video signal from the network, said second recovering means comprising fourth filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered, and
• third transmitting means, connected to said television receiver, for transmitting one of
• (1) said second video signal or
• (2) an alternative video signal having substantially the same information content as said second video signal to said television receiver.

A communications system that includes a network of wiring, a plurality of ports ordinarily used for connection of telephone equipment to said network, and an interface to a telephone system, said ports being located in different areas, said network comprising a plurality of 2-wire conductive paths connecting said ports to said interface, the communications system including a first one of said ports and an apparatus (2) located in a first area, said apparatus (2) supplying a first video signal, and a second one of said ports and a television receiver located in a second area, the communications system further comprising:

• (a) a first electronic device (1) located in said first area including:
• receiving means, connected to said apparatus (2), for receiving said first video signal;
• first RF conversion means for converting said first video signal to a signal whose energy is concentrated at different frequencies, so as to provide a second video signal, substantially all of the energy of said second signal being concentrated at frequencies below 54 Mhz, information content of said second video signal being substantially the same as information content of said first video signal;
• amplification means for amplifying said second video signal;
• and
• first transmitting means, connected to said first one of said ports, for transmitting said second video signal onto the network, said first transmitting means comprising first filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• (b) a second electronic device (15) located in said second area including:
• recovering means, connected to said second of said ports, for recovering said second video signal from said network, said recovering means including second filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• second RF conversion means for converting said second video signal to a signal whose energy is concentrated at higher frequencies, so as to provide third video signal, substantially all of the energy of said third video signal being concentrated at frequencies above 54 Mhz, the information content of said third video signal being substantially the same as the information content of said second video signal;
• and
• second transmitting means, connected to said television receiver, for transmitting said third video signal to said television receiver.

A communications system that includes a network of wiring, a plurality of ports ordinarily used for connection of telephone equipment to said network, and an interface to a telephone system, said ports being located in different areas, said network comprising a plurality of 2-wire conductive paths connecting said ports to said interface, the communications system including a first one of said ports and an electronic device (1) located in a first area, and a second one of said ports and a television receiver (30) located in a second area, the system further including an apparatus (2) located in said first area, said apparatus (2) supplying a first video signal and responding to infrared light signals received from a first infrared light transmitter for determining the operational mode of said apparatus, said apparatus being out of range of said light transmitter when said transmitter is located in said second area, wherein:

• (a) said electronic device (1) located in said first area includes;
• receiving means connected to said apparatus (2) for receiving said first video signal;
• signal processing means for providing a second video signal, said second video signal having a higher energy level than said first video signal and substantially the same information content as said first video signal:
• and
• first transmitting means, connected to said first one of said ports, for transmitting said second video signal onto the network, said first transmitting means comprising first filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• (b) said television receiver (30) located in said second area includes:
• first recovering means, connected to said second one of said ports, for recovering said second video signal from the network, said first recovering means comprising second filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered:
• first converting means for converting infrared light radiation to a first series of electrical impulses;
• first representing means for representing said first series of electrical impulses as a second series of electrical impulses, information content of said second series being substantially the same as the information content of said first series, substantially all of the energy of said second series being concentrated at frequencies above the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices:
• and
• second transmitting means, connected to said second one of said ports, for transmitting said second series onto the network, said second transmitting means comprising third filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second series to transmit substantially unaltered;
• (c) said electronic device (1) located in said first area further includes:
• second recovering means, connected to said first one of said ports, for recovering said second series of electrical impulses from the network wiring, said second recovering means comprising fourth filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second series to transmit substantially unaltered;
• second representing means for representing said second series of electrical impulses as a third series of electrical impulses, information content of said third series being substantially the same as the information content of said second series, and
• second converting means for converting said third series of electrical impulses to infrared light radiation, said second converting means creating a light pattern with substantially the same characteristics as the light pattern created by the infrared light radiation in the second area.

A communications system that includes a network of wiring, a plurality of ports ordinarily used for connection of telephone equipment to said network, and an interface to a telephone system, said ports being located in different areas, said network comprising a plurality of 2-wire conductive paths connecting said ports to said interface, the communications system further including a first one of said ports and a first apparatus located in a first area, said first apparatus providing a first video signal, a second one of said ports and a second apparatus located in a second area, said second apparatus providing a second video signal, the energy of said first video signal concentrated at substantially the same frequencies as the energy of said second video signal, and a third one of said ports and a television receiver located in a third area, said communications system further comprising:

• (a) a first electronic device located in said first area including:
• means, connected to said first apparatus, for receiving said first video signal;
• first signal processing means including a first amplifier for providing a third video signal, said third video signal having a higher energy level than said first video signal and substantially the same information content as said first video signal:
• first transmitting means, connected to said first one of said ports, for transmitting said third video signal onto the network, said first transmitting means comprising first filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said third video signal to transmit substantially unaltered,
• (b) a second electronic device located in said second area including:
• means, connected to said second apparatus, for receiving said second video signal;
• second signal processing means including a second amplifier for providing a fourth video signal, said fourth video signal having a higher energy level than said second video signal and substantially the same information content as said second video signal;
• and
• second transmitting means, connected to said second one of said ports, for transmitting said fourth video signal onto the network, said second transmitting means comprising second filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said fourth video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• (c) a third electronic device located in said third area including:
• recovering means, connected to said third one of said ports, for recovering said third and fourth video signals from the network, said recovering means comprising third filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said third and said fourth video signals to transmit substantially unaltered;
• third transmitting means, connected to said television receiver, for transmitting said third and fourth video signals to said television receiver;
• and wherein at least one of said first electronic device and said second electronic device further includes one of;
• (1) filter means having at least first and second operational settings, for blocking transmission of electrical energy concentrated within a particular frequency band to the network when at said first operational setting, and permitting transmission of electrical energy concentrated within said particular frequency band to the network when at a second operational setting, said filter means further including means for detecting DTMF (dual tone multi-frequency) signals, said filter means adopting one of said first and second operational settings in accordance with detection of special sequences of DTMF signals and
• (2) switching means including first and second operational modes, said means preventing the supply of power to the amplifier included in the electronic device that includes said switching means when at a first operational mode, and permitting the supply of power to the amplifier included in the electronic device that includes said switching means when at a second operational mode. said switching means further including means for detecting signals transmitted across standard electrical power wiring and adopting said first or said second operational mode in accordance with information contained in said signals transmitted across said power wiring.

A communications system that includes a network of wiring, a plurality of ports ordinarily used for connection of telephone equipment to said network, and an interface to a telephone system, said ports being located in different areas, said network comprising a plurality of 2-wire conductive paths connecting said ports to said interface, the communications system further including a first one of said ports and a first apparatus located in a first area, said first apparatus supplying a first video signal, and a second one of said ports and a television receiver located in a second area, said communications system further including:

• (a) a first electronic device located in said first area and including:
• receiving means, connected to said first apparatus, for receiving said first video signal,
• signal processing means for providing a second video signal, said second video signal having a higher energy level than said first video signal and substantially the same information content as said first video signal, and
• first transmitting means, connected to said first one of said ports, for transmitting said second video signal onto the network, said first transmitting means comprising first filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• (b) a second electronic device located in said second area and including:
• recovering means, connected to said second one of said ports, for recovering said second video signal from the network, said recovering means comprising second filtering means for presenting a high impedance to signals whose energy is concentrated at frequencies below the highest frequency used for communication by ordinary telephone devices, while allowing said second video signal to transmit substantially unaltered;
• and
• second transmitting means, connected to said television receiver, for transmitting said second video signal to said television receiver;
• (c) wherein at least one of said first and second electronic devices further includes:
• a supplemental port for connecting ordinary telephone equipment, and a path for transmission of electrical energy, said path connecting between said supplemental port and one of said first and second ports, said path including filter means for allowing energy concentrated at frequencies used by ordinary telephone devices to pass substantially unaltered while attenuating energy at frequencies wherein the energy of said second video signal is concentrated, said filter means diverting energy of said second video signal away from said telephone equipment.