Robert L Block

US Patent:

41044860, Aug 1, 1978

Filed:

Jun 29, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/701033

Inventors:

John R. Martin - Milwaukee WI
Robert S. Block - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H04Q 900
H04M 1100

US Classification:

179 2AM

Abstract:

A telephone data accumulator system for accumulating data at a central station through connection of the central station to a remote subscriber's station, including a data accumulator, by way of nondedicated telephone lines. The remote terminal is selectively conditioned to generate dialing signals and to thereby provide selective connection of the accumulator to the telephone lines from the remote subscriber station. A preconditioning circuit such as timing means or a broadcast signal decoder at the subscriber's station conditions the remote terminal and provides a short time window during a time of the day when the telephone there is not likely to be used for normal telephone calls, and the call is made to the central station during the time window to cause connection of the data accumulator to the telephone lines. The data in the data accumulator is thereafter transferred from the remote station to the central station over the telephone lines.

US Patent:

D2512289, Mar 6, 1979

Filed:

Jul 6, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/702620

Inventors:

Robert S. Block - Bayside WI
John F. Krieger - Grafton WI

International Classification:

D0799

US Classification:

D 7 37

US Patent:

D2499185, Oct 17, 1978

Filed:

Jul 6, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/702619

Inventors:

Robert S. Block - Bayside WI
John F. Krieger - Grafton WI

International Classification:

D0701

US Classification:

D 7 9

US Patent:

41632540, Jul 31, 1979

Filed:

Feb 14, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/768404

Inventors:

Robert S. Block - Milwaukee WI
John R. Martin - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H04N 716
H04N 700

US Classification:

358122

Abstract:

A subscription television system and method in which billing information regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of the system is accumulated over non-dedicated telephone lines. A scrambled television program signal containing a block of television program material and a program identification code unique to the block of program material is transmitted at a predetermined carrier frequency. The codes are preferably included in the vertical retrace interval of the video portion of the program signal and the transmitted program signal is selectively received at a subscriber station and selectively unscrambled to permit viewing of the block of program material being transmitted in response to subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material. The program identification code in the program signal received at the subscriber station is detected and stored for subsequent transmission as an electrical signal in response to the subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material. The program identification code stored at the subscriber station is selectively accessed from a remote location over telephone lines on other than a real time basis (e. g.

US Patent:

D2552000, Jun 3, 1980

Filed:

Sep 8, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/940877

Inventors:

Robert S. Block - Bayside WI
John F. Krieger - Grafton WI

Assignee:

Robert S. Block, by John F. Krieger - Grafton WI

International Classification:

D0701

US Classification:

D 7 5

US Patent:

41267621, Nov 21, 1978

Filed:

May 4, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/683161

Inventors:

John R. Martin - Milwaukee WI
Robert S. Block - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H04M 1108

US Classification:

179 2A

Abstract:

A system wherein a telephone calling signal from a central station initiates the connection of a remote terminal, including a data accumulator, at a subscriber's station to a nondedicated telephone line for reading by a billing processor computer at the central station. In one embodiment, sequential ringing signals having a different time spacing than the signals from a normal telephone call may, through operation of a ring muting circuit at the subscriber's station, condition the remote terminal to intercept the ringing signals and to provide selective connection of the accumulator to the line without disturbing the subscriber or disrupting normal telephone operation. Alternatively, timing means may be operated at the subscriber's station to condition the remote terminal and provide a short time window during a time of the day when the telephone there is not likely to be used for normal telephone calls so that a call made from the central station during the time window will cause connection of the data accumulator. In both embodiments conditioning and connection of the subscriber terminal are accomplished without actuating the subscriber ringer.