Zenith Electronics Corporation

Zenith Electrics Corporation

Gordon E Reichard, Jr

Semir D Sirazi

Charles B Bestler

Thomas J Rossen

John K Chan

The disclosure depicts in a two-way broadband communications network employing a carrier sense multiple access with collision detection protocol an apparatus and method for controlling station transmit signal levels. Signal level detection circuitry is coupled to one or a plurality of locations in the network transmission medium to determine the signal level generated by each of the plurality of stations periodically transmitting into the medium. The detected signal level from a station is compared to a predetermined range of appropriate values for the station and where the station is transmitting signals outside of the predetermined range, a correction factor is applied to the station to adjust the transmit levels of the station.

Method and apparatus for power level control in area networks

An IPPV technique is provided for a cable system having one-way addressable converters. Each of several central offices in a metropolitan area will provide ANI information representing the cable subscriber's phone number and a code representing the cable event to be viewed or cancelled. The data is sent asynchronously to a respective telephone communication unit located at the central office. This telephone communication unit (TCU) does some buffering, eliminates unnecessary data, and sends data synchronously to a telephone communication controller (TCC) located at the cable headend station. The TCC will acknowledge the data. There will be several TCCs located at the cable headend station corresponding to the several central offices who may give telephone service to the cable operator's subscribers. All of these TCCs at the headend station are coupled through a multiplexer to a system controller. Each TCC provides intermediate processing which converts the subscriber's telephone number into binary. The multiplexer provides buffering, flow control, and arbitration among various TCCs. The multiplexer adapts to data flow conditions. The system controller receives data from each subscriber, locates a corresponding home terminal unit address, examines the password and other information, and maps the two digit program identification which was entered by the subscriber into an authorization code. It then authorizes the home terminal units in accordance with the IPPV requests by transmitting the subscriber's cable address and a new authorization code in the vertical blanking interval, generates the commercial transaction, and downloads the transaction to a billing system.

Mapping method for impulse pay per view system

An IPPV technique is provided for a cable system having one-way addressable converters. Each of several central offices in a metropolitan area will provide ANI information representing the cable subscriber's phone number and a code representing the cable event to be viewed or cancelled. The data is sent asynchronously to a respective telephone communication unit located at the central office. This telephone communication unit (TCU) does some buffering, eliminates unnecessary data, and sends data synchronously to a telepone communication controller (TCC) located at the cable headend station. The TCC will acknowledge the data. There will be several TCCs located at the cable headend station corresponding to the several central offices who may give telephone service to the cable operator's subscribers. All of these TCCs at the headend station are coupled through a multiplexer to a system controller. Each TCC provides intermediate processing which converts the subscriber's telephone number into binary. The multiplexer provides buffering, flow control, and arbitration among various TCCs. The multiplexer adapts to data flow conditions. The system controller receives data from each subscriber, locates a corresponding home terminal unit address, examines the password and other information, and maps the two digit program identification which was entered by the subscriber into an authorization code. It then authorizes the home terminal units in accordance with the IPPV requests by transmitting the subscriber's cable address and a new authorization code in the vertical blanking interval, generates the commercial transaction, and downloads the transaction to a billing system.

Impulse pay per view system and method

An adaptive window multiplexing technique. A multiplexer is coupled between a single destination and a plurality of data sources. The multiplexer includes control circuitry for sequentially addressing each of the data sources. When a data source has data available for transfer, the sequential addressing is interrupted and the addressed data source is allowed to transfer all of its data to the multiplexer. After data in one source is completely transferred, the next data source is addressed.

Growing community of inventors

Rolling Meadows, IL, United States of America

Gordon E Reichard, Jr