Zenith Electronics Corporation

Larry K Moreland

Caitlin B Bestler

Michael E Long

Frederick H Auld, Jr

A method of operating a cable system having premium channel encoders and dedicated smart pay per view encoders, each associated with an individual channel. The pay per view encoders are provided with the addresses of certain subscriber stations that have been approved to decode pay per view events on the associated channels. These certain subscriber stations are addressed on a priority basis by the pay per view encoder handling the pay per view event to set their authorization memories to decode the pay per view event. The authorization memories are updated by RAM groups of five program tags. All of the PPV encoders are assigned to the same RAM group so that in updating authorization memories, the authorization of a subscriber station memory for another pay per view event is not altered. The authorization process is rapidly accomplished and is repeated for a period of time after commencement of the pay per view event. The certain subscriber stations are immediately deauthorized by the same pay per view encoder at the end of the pay per view event.

Method of operating a pay per view television system

A first mixer block converts received MMDS channel frequencies to MMDS frequencies capable of being processed by an MMDS decoder. The MMDS decoder, which includes a crystal controlled reference generator, is located in a benign environment. The reference is supplied to a phase locked loop for controlling a fixed frequency local oscillator that supplies the first mixer. The local oscillator output is also supplied to a second mixer that produces a response signal, of a different frequency, by biphase shift key modulation of said reference that is transmitted back to the transmitting site via the antenna. A squelch circuit precludes transmission of the unmodulated reference.

Two-way MMDS communications system

A dual in-band/out-of-band CATV receiver includes a coupler that couples input signals to a tuner and decoder for demodulation and recovery of in-band data and to an FSK receiver for recovery of out-of-band data. The recovered data outputs of the decoder and of the FSK receiver are coupled to a data switch that has a common output that is coupled to a tuner/decoder microprocessor. The tuner/decoder microprocessor in turn supplies information to a switch microprocessor for controlling operation of the data switch to couple either in-band or out-of-band data to the tuner/decoder microprocessor. The data switch defaults to the in-band data position whenever a channel change occurs.

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McHenry, IL, United States of America

Larry K Moreland