High resolution optical communication system

A communications system enabling bidirectional audible and visual communication between at least two remotely located users, said communications system comprising:

• a plurality of user units, one said user unit serving the premises of one user;
• a central computer for controlling and coordinating bidirectional audible and visual communication established between any two users, having means for generating horizontal yoke control signals and transmitting said horizontal yoke control signals to each user unit, means for generating vertical yoke control signals and transmitting said horizontal yoke control signals to each user unit, and focus coil means control signals and transmitting said focus coil means control signals to each user unit, and means for providing each said user unit with a unique identifying code associated with the location of each respective user unit, and for enabling audio and video communication to be completed only when a said unique identifying code is signalled to said master computer from the location corresponding to the said user unit initiating communication;
• and
• a network of optical fiber cables linking each said user unit to said central computer,
• each user unit further comprising
• a telephone having a microphone, a audio receiving speaker, and means for generating first analog signals corresponding to sounds detected by said microphone,
• a television camera having means for generating second analog signals corresponding to visual images detected by said television camera,
• a cathode ray tube having means for generating a visual image responsive to video signals, horizontal yoke, vertical yoke, and focus coil means, said cathode ray tube having an electron beam gun having a G1 aperture having a maximal diameter dimension of 0.010 inch, said cathode ray tube further having means for scanning at least two thousand lines, whereby said communications systems provides high definition visual resolution,
• an encoder connected to said telephone and to said television camera, having means for converting said first analog signals and said second analog signals into corresponding first digital audio signals and second digital video signals,
• an optical signal generator connected to said encoder, having means for generating optical signals corresponding to said first digital signals and said second digital signals, said optical signal generator operably connected to said network of optical fiber cables,
• an optical signal detector and decoder having means for receiving incoming optical signals and converting said incoming optical signals into audio signals usable by said speaker of said telephone to reproduce transmitted sounds and video signals usable by said cathode ray tube to reproduce transmitted images, said detector and decoder also having means for connecting said optical signals and said audio signals to said telephone and to said cathode ray tube, and means for connecting said horizontal yoke control signals, said vertical yoke control signals, and said focus coil means control signals to said cathode ray tube, said detector and decoder of each said user unit further comprising means for receiving digital signals from an associated said detector and for converting said digital signals into corresponding analog signals, and for transmitting said analog signals to said cathode ray tube and to said speaker of said telephone,
• a gate having ports enabling connection of optical cables also connected to said optical signal generator and said detector, whereby ready connection of optical fiber cables of said network of optical fiber cables to each said user unit is enabled,
• means for receiving cable television signals and for transmitting cable television signals to said cathode ray tube, and
• means for connecting a utility meter to said encoder of a said user unit, whereby consumption of the connected utility may be communicated to said master computer and thereby monitored by said communications system.