1. (canceled)
2. A video sound signal transmittingreceiving system including a transmitting unit for multiplexing a video signal and a sound signal and transmitting it and a receiving unit for receiving the video signal and the sound signal from the transmitting unit,
the transmitting unit comprising a transmitting block for multiplexing the video signal and the sound signal and transmitting it to the receiving unit and a channel number control block for controlling the number of channels of the sound signal transmitted from the transmitting block,
the receiving unit comprising a receiving block for receiving the video signal and the sound signal from the transmitting unit, a recording block for recording connection state information indicating speaker connection states, and hot plug means for changing a state of connection with the transmitting unit,
wherein when connection state information recorded in the recording block of the receiving unit is changed, the receiving unit set disconnecting state with the transmitting unit by the hot plug means for a prescribed time period before transmitting the changed connection state information to the transmitting unit, and the transmitting unit controls the number of channels of a sound signal being transmitted from the transmitting block, according to received connection state information.
3. The video sound signal transmittingreceiving system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit further comprises a speaker detecting block for detecting a connected speaker, wherein when the speaker detecting block of the receiving unit detects change in a state of a connected speaker, connection state information recorded in the recording block of the receiving unit is changed.
4. A video sound signal transmittingreceiving method in which a video signal and a sound signal are multiplexed and transmitted from a transmitting unit and the transmitted video signal and sound signal are received by a receiving unit, the method comprising the steps of:
controlling the number of channels of the sound signal transmitted from the transmitting unit;
multiplexing and transmitting, from the transmitting unit, the video signal and the sound signal which the number of sound channels is controlled;
receiving the transmitted video signal and sound signal by the receiving unit;
recording connection state information indicating a connection state of a speaker being connected to the receiving unit; and
changing a connection state between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit,
wherein when the recorded connection state information is changed, after setting disconnecting state between the receiving unit and the transmitting unit for a prescribed time period, the changed connection state information is transmitted from the receiving unit to the transmitting unit, and the number of channels of a sound signal being transmitted from the transmitting block is controlled according to transmitted connection state information.
5. The video sound signal transmittingreceiving method according to claim 3, wherein when the receiving unit detects change in a state of a speaker being connected to the receiving unit, the recorded connection state information is changed.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic parking meter, comprising:
a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin countingauditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter;
a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, and a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface; and
an access device for operating said lock, comprising means for storing data for presentation to said lock control circuit, means for storing information for presentation to said coin countingauditing circuit, and means for storing information received from said coin countingauditing circuit;
said second section including a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;
said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin countingauditing circuit by an interface cable.
2. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical communication terminals of the vault door and the vault opening are electrical contact terminals, the electrical contact terminal of the vault door including a spring for making contact with the electrical contact terminal of the vault opening.
3. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical contact terminal of the vault opening is provided on a housing bracket mounted at a periphery of said vault opening.
4. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said access device is capable of communicating directly with said coin countingauditing circuit through said lock circuit, when said vault door is mounted in said vault opening.
5. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 4, wherein said access device is capable of modifying information in said coin countingauditing circuit to modify operation of said parking meter.
6. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coin countingauditing circuit sends information to said lock control circuit to be stored in said lock control circuit for transmission to said access device upon proper coupling of said access device to said lock.
7. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 5, wherein information capable of being modified in said coin countingauditing circuit includes meter ID, meter zone ID, and meter status.
8. In an electronic parking meter having a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin countingauditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter, a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface, and a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, the improvement comprising:
said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;
said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin countingauditing circuit by an interface cable.
9. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 8, wherein the electrical communication terminals of the vault door and the vault opening are electrical contact terminals, and wherein the electrical contact terminal of the vault door includes a spring for making contact with the electrical contact terminal of the vault opening.
10. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 9, wherein the electrical contact terminal of the vault opening is provided on a housing bracket mounted at a periphery of said vault opening.
11. An electronic parking meter as set forth in claim 8, wherein said access device is capable of communicating directly with said coin countingauditing circuit through said lock circuit, when said vault door is mounted in said vault opening.