Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Himanshu R Parikh

Paul Borsetti, Jr

Vibha Rustagi

Mark E Schutte

Michael P Harney

James O Farmer

Lamar E West, Jr

Gregory S Durden

Robert J Edwards

Mark E Schuttte

Vibhu Rustagi

Larmar E West

A method and apparatus for providing periodic subscription television services comprises a way for subscribers who cannot afford the fees for full time television services such as a regular cable television service to obtain subscription service to a plurality of allocated channels on a periodic basis. The method comprises the steps of allocating channels to a periodic service offering and storing in memory of service denial apparatus service code data which represents the allocated channels. The service denial apparatus for providing periodic service comprises a service denial device such as a switch 389 or other circuit controlled by a controller 260 of service denial apparatus for periodically closing and opening service lines to the periodic service subscriber in accordance with predetermined periodic service intervals. For example, one periodic subscription television service offering may be a weekend service whereby the periodic service subscriber is connected to receive a predetermined plurality of channels from 6 PM on a Friday evening through 12 PM on a Sunday evening.

Method and apparatus for providing periodic subscription television

Off-premises cable television pay per view apparatus is coupled between first and second diplexers of off-premises subscriber service providing equipment. The diplexers separate the transmission path between a headend and a subscriber into downstream or forward and upstream or reverse transmission paths. A radio frequency transmitter is coupled between a controller and the upstream diplexer which may actuate a selected one of a plurality of data channels in the notoriously noisy subsplit 5-30 megahertz transmission spectrum for reporting billable events. On-premises equipment is minimized to comprise only a unidirectional data transmitter. The data transmission is sent repetitively over a predetermined period of time before the data transmitter, comprising a microprocessor, turns itself off to conserve power. Thus, data transmitted from the subscriber in a first format is received at off-premises equipment, service is authorized there if appropriate, and then data is transmitted over a data channel selected so as to avoid noisy portions of the spectrum in a second format to a headend.

CATV pay per view interdiction system method and apparatus

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. According to one illustrated implementation, the system is adapted to perform with various jamming factors, including pulsed or continuous mode jamming, variable dwell time, and variable hopping rates depending upon the channel line-up of a particular CATV system. Generally, heavy jamming factors are combined with fast hopping rates while light jamming factors are combined with slow hopping rates. Pulsed mode jamming is combined with slow hopping rates and light jamming factors. Using a combination of jamming parameters based on a channel line-up for a particular subscriber improves overall jamming effectiveness.

Interdiction method and apparatus with programmable jamming effectiveness

An off-premises method and apparatus for the interdiction of unauthorized channels of a broadband cable television signal includes common circuitry for adjusting the amplitude and equalization levels of the broadband CATV signals and one or more subscriber modules for generating jamming signals of different frequencies which are used to interdict one or more unauthorized channels. Each subscriber module is associated with a subscriber and is programmable and addressable to adjust the jamming parameters of that subscriber independently of other subscribers. Each subscriber module circuit comprises a plurality of latches, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of digital to analog converters. Each of the digital to analog converters drives one or more frequency agile oscillators with its analog output to generate the jamming signals. The subscriber module is based on a sequential state machine which loads frequency control words corresponding to the jammed channels from a frequency control memory into each latch on a cyclic basis. According to one illustrated implementation, the addresses of the frequency control memory are generated in subgroups of the possible time slots for a duration called a repeat cycle. Each additional subgroup is then sequentially addressed for the repeat cycle before the scheme is initiated again. This technique is termed 'pulsed mode' where subgroups of 8 out of 16, termed 'half mode', and 4 out of t16, termed 'quarter mode', are illustrated. This pulsed mode of operation results in channels which are jammed during the repeat cycle and then are in the clear for other times. This type of operation provides a great deal of flexibility in distributing jamming energy to a large number of channels which can be lightly jammed. The entertainment value of the channel is thus effectively destroyed without the need of oscuring the video 100% of the time.

Interdiction method and apparatus with pulsed mode jamming

An off premises CATV system is disclosed. A headend transmits programming including pay-per-view programming and a cable distribution system distributes the programming. An off premises unit is coupled to the cable distribution system for supplying the programming to at least one subscriber. A subscriber terminal is coupled to the off premises unit over a communication link. The subscriber terminal including an input device for inputting subscriber-supplied signals indicative of a pay-per-view event to generate a message. A transmitter responsive to the subscriber-supplied signals transmits the message to the off premises unit over the communication link. The message is transmitted at a plurality of random times within a predetermined period of time.

CATV pay per view interdiction system

A diagnostic method and apparatus for a cable television interdiction system is provided. One or more diagnostic modes each corresponding to a particular problem or state associated with the interdiction unit may be entered into by the interdiction unit. If a diagnostic mode is detected, the television signal provided to a television signal receiving apparatus, e.g., a television set, is disabled for a specified length of time. Thereafter, depending upon the diagnostic mode detected, either the television signal provided to the receiving apparatus and/or a light-emitting device, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED), is pulsed a specified number of times corresponding to the detected diagnostic mode. The cycle of disabling the television signal provided to the receiving apparatus and pulsing either or both the television signal provided to the receiving apparatus and/or the LED is repeated until a transaction is received from the headend cancelling the diagnostic mode. Thus, the pulsing of the television signal provided to the receiving apparatus alerts the user of the receiving apparatus that a problem has occurred to the interdiction unit, and this information may be provided by the user to the cable television operator. Likewise, the pulsing LED coupled to the interdiction unit may alert a technician working on the interdiction unit as to the cause of the problem. In a preferred embodiment, the LED may be located on a tamper override module (TOM) inserted into the interdiction unit by a technician in order to service the interdiction unit.

Diagnostic method and apparatus for a cable television interdiction

Apparatus for broadband signal distribution is equipped with a detector for detecting when the apparatus is open and is further adapted to receive an entry code generator. If the entry code generator is not installed or, if installed, fails to generate an entry code which matches an authorized entry code stored in the apparatus, the apparatus enters a particular mode of operation whereby service provided by the apparatus is interfered with. The entry code generator comprises a circuit board for coupling with an electrical connector of the apparatus having at least one ear which precludes closure of a cover to the apparatus. A method of screening access to the apparatus from others than authorized service personnel includes waiting a predetermined period of time for coupling the access code generator before service is interfered with. Furthermore, the stored access code may be changed or the predetermined time varied by addressable command from a headend of a broadband signal distribution system.

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Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Himanshu R Parikh