Importance

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Abstract

A communication system enabling transmission of individual subscriber teletext messages, audio and video to individual subscribers and permitting group communications of audio, video, teletext and data information from a single central subscriber location, such as a corporate head office to a plurality of satellite offices, such as field or sales offices of the corporation, is disclosed. A composite signal including the information to be transmitted as well as system wide, individual decoder and group decoder control signals is transmitted. The system-wide control signals include data germane to operation of each of the decoders of this system, including key information needed to decode the composite signal. The system-wide control data is transmitted at a first relatively high frequency. The group decoder information includes information permitting individual groups of decoders to receive information portion of the composite signal being transmitted at a given time. In this way, for example, an audio and video signal can be transmitted at a convenient time from a central location to a number of satellite locations. The group decoder control signal can also include signals used by the decoder to cause recording of the signals, e.g., by activating a video cassette recorder or the like. The group control signals also include signals defining service packages to which the individual groups may be assigned. The individual decoder messages include information relevant to the operation of each individual decoder, including further key information needed to decode the composite signal, and group assignment codes.

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First Claim