Scientific-atlanta, Inc.

Robert J Edwards

Gregory S Durden

Anthony John Wasilewski

Lamar E West, Jr

Jay C McMullan, Jr

David J Naddor

Randolph J Schaubs

Himanshu R Parikh

Vibha Rustagi

Paul Borsetti, Jr

Robert J Beyers, Ii

Emory L McGinty, Jr

Ray T Haman, Jr

Donald R Huntley

Charles R Bramhall

John A Kennedy

Jesse M Still

Douglas J Hoder

Donovan S White

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

A method of transferring a data message from a remote unit to a central location is provided. A plurality of data channels is selected for transmitting the data message from the remote unit to the central location. At least one random transmit time is generated for transmitting the data message for each of the plurality of data channels. The data message is transmitted over the plurality of data channels at the transmit times. An apparatus for transferring a data message from a remote unit to a central location is also provided.

Cable television radio frequency subscriber data transmission apparatus

Automatic level calibration apparatus for transmitting data from a cable television terminal to the headend of a cable television system comprises programmable transmitter apparatus of the terminal, programmable receiving apparatus at the headend and a calibration controller. Responsive to an addressed command from the headend, the programmable transmitter apparatus returns a sequence of levels at a particular calibration frequency. The programmable receiver apparatus determines an indication of the received signal strength of each of the levels of the sequence of levels. The controller determines an optimum level for transmissions from the terminal.

System for data channel level control

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Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

Robert J Edwards