Cable Diagnostic and Monitoring System
First Claim
1. A cable television method for a cable television network, comprising:
- sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box;
wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box;
receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; and
compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cable television method for a cable television network involves sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box; receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; and compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A cable television method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box; receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; and compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cable television method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box; receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent; generating a report of program viewing statistics; and sending the report to a rating service. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a cable television method for a cable television network, comprising:
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sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of a television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box to report a currently tuned channel of the television set top box; receiving a response message from the cable television set top box transmitted by the modem and containing the currently tuned channel of the television set top box; compiling the currently tuned channel information from a plurality of set top boxes received in response messages to determine actual program viewing statistics for a television time slot during which the polling responses were sent; generating a report of program viewing statistics; and sending the report to a rating service. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification