Interactive cable television system

• US 4,264,925 A
• Filed: 08/13/1979
• Issued: 04/28/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agent For Nolan K. Bushnell Calof, Lawrence, ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Michael J., Kurland, Lawrence G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US06/066,162
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 358/86, 358/93, 358/142, 358/143, 35/9 A, 35/9 B, 35/48 R, 455/3, 455/4, 455/5, 370/76
• US Class Current: 725/138
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/077 different stations being capable of presenting different questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

An interactive cable television system, such as a one way system, simultaneously provides both regular television programmings for one or more television reception channels and subscriber selectable multi-information television programming for a designated common one of those channels to a plurality of subscribers. Each individual subscriber having a multi-information interface network connected to the multichannel television receiver input may independently choose between reception of the regular television programming on any of the channels, including the designated common channel, and reception of the multi-information television programming which comprises a plurality of multi-information packets. Each packet comprises a plurality of simultaneously transmitted different information message signals which are related in real time and content to each other but which are transmitted at a different frequency from each other and from the associated frequencies of the television reception channels. The interface network, which includes a plurality of selection keys, converts the associated frequency of the desired information message signal in the transmitted packet to the common designated channel frequency to enable television reception thereof in accordance with the key selected. Another subscriber having the interface network may independently choose to receive either the regular television programming on that, or another channel, or a different information message signal, while subscribers not having the interface network may still receive the regular television programming. Labels for the selection keys may be visually presented on the television screen during reception of multi-information programming and may be dynamically varied in accordance with message content, such as in a decision tree or memory accumulation type of programming format.

Claims

1. An interactive cable television system comprising

a plurality of subscriber television reception systems, each of said subscriber television reception systems comprising a multichannel television receiver, each of said multichannel television receivers having a plurality of different television reception channels, each of said television reception channels having a different associated communication frequency;

a cable television subscriber distribution network operatively connected to said plurality of subscriber television reception systems; and

a cable television programming transmission means operatively connected to said subscriber distribution network for providing transmitted television programming thereto, said subscriber distribution networks providing said transmitted television programming to said plurality of subscriber television reception systems, said cable television programming transmission means comprising means for substantially simultaneously providing a multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal along with at least one different regular television program information signal as said transmitted television programming to said subscriber distribution network;

said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal comprising a plurality of multi-information packets, each multi-information packet comprising a plurality of simultaneously provided different program information message signals related in real time and content to each other, each of said different program information message signals in said multi-information packet being at a different associated communication frequency different from each other, and different from said television reception channel associated frequencies whereby said different program information message signals in said packet are frequency separated from each other and not directly receivable on said television reception channels;

said one different regular television program information signal having an associated communication frequency corresponding to a television reception channel frequency and being directly selectably receivable on the corresponding television reception channel;

each of said multichannel television receivers being capable of independently selectably receiving information on any one of said plurality of different television reception channels dependent on the television reception channel selected;

at least one of said subscriber television reception systems further comprising a multi-information selection interface means operatively connected between said subscriber distribution network and said multichannel television receiver, said multi-information selection interface means comprising first signal separation means operatively connected to said subscriber distribution network for demultiplexing said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal and providing a first pass band output signal comprising only said multi-information packets of said frequency separated related different program information message signals, and signal selection means operatively connected to said first signal separation means for receiving said first pass band output signal and selectably converting any one of the associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into the associated frequency of a designated one of said television reception channels and passing said selected frequency converted one of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals to said multichannel television receiver in said one subscriber television reception system;

whereby subscribers in said television system may independently selectably choose between said regular television programming being transmitted on said corresponding television reception channels and said multi-information television programming being received on said designated television reception channel.

2. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a designated one of said corresponding television reception channel associated frequencies and said designated television reception channel associated frequency are the same, said one different regular television program signal associated frequency corresponding to said designated television reception channel associated frequency, said multi-information selection interface means further comprising mode selection means operatively connected between said subscriber distribution network and said first signal selection means for enabling independent subscriber selection between a normal mode state and a multi-information mode state, said one different regular television program information signal being selectably passed directly to said multichannel television receiver in said normal mode state while reception of said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal by said first signal separation means is disabled, said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal being selectably provided to said first signal separation means in said multi-information mode state while direct passage of said one different regular television program information signal to said multichannel television receiver at said same associated frequency is disabled, whereby said subscriber television reception systems employing said multi-information selection interface means may selectably receive either said multi-information television programming or said regular television programming on the same designated television reception channel while other subscriber television reception systems not employing said multi-information selection interface means simultaneously receive only said regular television programming on said same designated television reception channel.

3. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cable television programming transmission means further comprises means for providing a plurality of different regular television program information signals along with said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal, each of said different regular television program information signals having a different associated communication frequency, each of said associated regular television program information signal communication frequencies being different from each other and from said associated different program information message signal frequencies, each of said different regular television program information signal associated frequencies corresponding to a different television reception channel frequency and being directly selectably receivable on the corresponding television reception channel.

4. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said first signal separation means comprises demultiplexer means for demultiplexing said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal and providing a demultiplexed output signal comprising said plurality of simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals and first band pass filter means operatively connected to said demultiplexer means for receiving said demultiplexed output signal and providing said first pass band output signal.

5. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said signal selection means comprises mixer means operatively connected to said first band pass filter means for receiving said first pass band output signal as one input thereto, means for selectably providing a variable mixing frequency signal to another input of said mixer means, said mixing frequency signal having a selectably variable associated frequency which when mixed with said first pass band output signal in said mixer means converts the selected one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into a mixer output signal comprising said designated television reception channel associated frequency, and second band pass filter means operatively connected to said mixer means for receiving said mixer output signal and providing a second pass band output signal comprising only said frequency converted selected one of said plurality of related different program information signals to said multi-channel television receiver.

6. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said selectably variable mixing frequency signal providing means comprises mixing frequency synthesizer means for synthesizing said mixing frequency signal, keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably varying the mixing frequency signal to be synthesized dependent on the key selected and command signal storage means operatively connected between said synthesizer means and said keyboard means for generating a variable command signal to said synthesizer means dependent on the key selected, said synthesizer means being responsive to said variable command signal for determining said mixing frequency signal based thereon, a different one of said keys corresponding to a different one of said simultaneously transmitted selectable plurality of related different information message signals.

7. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said command signal storage means comprises read only memory means.

8. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency synthesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

9. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said multi-information selection interface means further comprises second signal separation means operatively connected between said subscriber distribution network and said mode selection means for initially frequency separating said transmitted television programming into said multiplexed multi-information television program information signal, said one different regular television program information signal at said designated television reception channel associated frequency and said plurality of different regular television program information signals having associated frequencies other than said designated television reception channel associated frequency, said other frequency different regular television program information signals being passed directly to said multichannel television receiver while said multiplexed multi-information television program information signal and said one different regular television program information signal at said designated channel associated frequency are passed to said mode selection means input, whereby regular television program may simultaneously be selectably received on all of said television reception channels while said designated one of said television reception channels may further selectably receive said regular television programming or said still further selectable multi-information television programming.

10. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said multi-information selection interface means further comprises second signal separation means operatively connected between said subscriber distribution network and said mode selection means for initially frequency separating said transmitted television programming into said multiplexed multi-information television program information signal, said one different regular television program information signal at said designated television reception channel associated frequency and said plurality of different regular television program information signals having associated frequencies other than said designated television reception channel associated frequency, said otgher frequency different regular television program information signals being passed directly to said multichannel television receiver while said multiplexed multi-information television program information signal and said one different regular television program information signal at said designated channel associated frequency are passed to said mode selection means input, whereby regular television program may simultaneously be selectably received on all of said television reception channels while said designated one of said television reception channels may further selectably receive said regular television programming or said still further selectable multi-information television programming.

11. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cable television programming transmission means further comprises means for providing a plurality of different regular television program information signals along with said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal, each of said different regular television program information signals having a different associated communication frequency, each of said associated regular television program information signal communication frequencies being different from each other and from said associated different program information message signal frequencies, each of said different regular television program information signal associated frequencies corresponding to a different television reception channel frequency and being directly selectably receivable on the corresponding television reception channel.

12. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first signal separation means comprises demultiplexer means for demultiplexing said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal and providing a demultiplexed output signal comprising said plurality of simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals and first band pass filter means operatively connected to said demultiplexer means for receiving said demultiplexed output signal and providing said first pass band output signal.

13. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said signal selection means comprises mixer means operatively connected to said first band pass filter means for receiving said first pass band output signal as one input thereto, means for selectably providing a variable mixing frequency signal to another input of said mixer means, said mixing frequency signal having a selectably variable associated frequency which when mixed with said first pass band output signal in said mixer means converts the selected one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into a mixer output signal comprising said designated television reception channel associated frequency, and second band pass filter means operatively connected to said mixer means for receiving said mixer output signal and providing a second pass band output signal comprising only said frequency converted selected one of said plurality of related different program information signals to said multichannel television receiver.

14. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said selectably variable mixing frequency signal providing means comprises mixing frequency synthesizer means for synthesizing said mixing frequency signal, keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably varying the mixing frequency signal to be synthesized dependent on the key selected and command signal storage means operatively connected between said synthesizer means and said keyboard means for generating a variable command signal to said synthesizer means dependent on the key selected, said synthesizer means being responsive to said variable command signal for determining said mixing frequency signal based thereon, a different one of said keys corresponding to a different one of said simultaneously transmitted selectable plurality of related different information message signals.

15. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said command signal storage means comprises read only memory means.

16. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency synthesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

17. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency synthesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

18. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signal selection means comprises mixer means operatively connected to said first signal separation means for receiving said first pass band output signal as one input thereto, means for selectably providing a variable mixing frequency signal to another input of said mixer means, said mixing frequency signal having a selectably variable associated frequency which when mixed with said first pass band output signal in said mixer means converts the selected one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into a mixer output signal comprising said designated television reception channel associated frequency, and second band pass filter means operatively connected to said mixer means for receiving said mixer output signal and providing a second pass band output signal comprising only said frequency converted selected one of said plurality of related different program information signals to said multichannel television receiver.

19. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said selectably variable mixing frequency signal providing means comprises mixing frequency synthesizer means for synthesizing said mixing frequency signal, keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably varying the mixing frequency signal to be synthesized dependent on the key selected and command signal storage means operatively connected between said synthesizer means and said keyboard means for generating a variable command signal to said synthesizer means dependent on the key selected, said synthesizer means being responsive to said variable command signal for determining said mixing frequency signal based thereon, a different one of said keys corresponding to a different one of said simultaneously transmitted selectable plurality of related different information message signals.

20. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency sythesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

21. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said multi-information packets comprises a plurality of said related different program information message signals in which one of said plurality of related different program information message signals comprises a particular interrogatory message and associated multiple choice selectible responses to said particular interrogatory message, said other related different program information message signals comprising responsive messages related in real time and content to said one particular interrogatory message and corresponding to said multiple choice selectible responses, only one of said plurality of other related different program information message signals comprising the correct selectible responsive message to said particular real time related interrogatory message, said other related different program information message signals further comprising instructional messages corresponding to selection of an incorrect responsive message which are related in real time and content to said one particular interrogatory message.

22. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said subscriber distribution network is a one way television signal distribution network.

23. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said multi-information packet comprises video information displayable on said multichannel television receiver corresponding to informational labels to be dynamically assigned to said keys for a particular multi-information packet, said television displayable informational labels being dynamically variable dependent on the content of said particular multi-information packet.

24. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signal selection means comprises keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably enabling said converting of any one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into said designated television reception channel associated frequency dependent on the key selected.

25. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said multi-information packet comprises video information displayable on said multichannel television receiver corresponding to informational labels to be dynamically assigned to said keys for a particular multi-information packet, said television displayable informational labels being dynamically variable dependent on the content of said particular multi-informational packet.

26. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 25 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of said individual multi-information packets comprising said multi-information television program communication signal are related to each other in real time and content with said portion of said plurality of time related multi-information packets being content related to each other in a decision tree relationship between successive individual packets and between program information message signals within said successive individual packets, thereby a memory accumulation program format may be received as said selectable multi-information television programming.

27. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said displayable informational labels dynamically vary in accordance with the successive decision tree selections to be made.

28. An interactive cable television system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of said individual multi-information packets comprising said multi-information television program communication signal are related to each other in real time and content with said portion of said plurality of time related multi-information packets being content related to each other in a decision tree relationship between successive individual packets and between program information message signals within said successive individual packets, whereby a memory accumulation program format may be received as said selectable multi-information television programming.

29. In an improved subscriber television reception system adapted for use in an interactive cable television system comprising

a plurality of subscriber television reception systems, each of said subscriber television reception systems comprising a multichannel television receiver, each of said multichannel television receivers having a plurality of different television reception channels, each of said television reception channels having a different associated communication frequency;

a cable television subscriber distribution network operatively connected to said plurality of subscriber television reception systems; and

a cable television programming transmission means operatively connected to said subscriber distribution network for providing transmitted television programming thereto, said subscriber distribution networks providing said transmitted television programming to said plurality of subscriber television reception systems, said cable television programming transmission means comprising means for substantially simultaneously providing a multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal along with at least one different regular television program information signal as said transmitted television programming to said subscriber distribution network;

said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal comprising a plurality of multi-information packets, each multi-information packet comprising a plurality of simultaneously provided different program information message signals related in real time and content to each other, each of said different program information message signals in said multi-information packet being at a different associated communication frequency different from each other, and different from said television reception channel associated frequencies whereby said different program information message signals in said packet are frequency separated from each other and not directly receivable on said television reception channels;

said one different regular television program information signal having an associated communication frequency corresponding to a television reception channel frequency and being directly selectably receivable on the corresponding television reception channel;

each of said multichannel television receivers being capable of independently selectably receiving information on any one of said plurality of different television reception channels dependent on the television reception channel selected;

the improved comprising a multi-information selection interface means operatively connected between said subscriber distribution network and said multichannel television receiver, said multi-information selection interface means comprising first signal separation means operatively connected to said subscriber distribution network for demultiplexing said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal and providing a first pass band output signal comprising only said multi-information packets of said frequency separated related different program information message signals, and signal selection means operatively connected to said first signal separation means for receiving said first pass band output signal and selectably converting any one of the associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into the associated frequency of a designated one of said television reception channels and passing said selected frequency converted one of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals to said multichannel television receiver in said improved subscriber television reception system;

whereby said improved subscriber television reception system may independently selectably choose between said regular television programming being transmitted on said corresponding television reception channels and said multi-information television programming being received on said designated television reception channel.

30. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 29 wherein a designated one of said corresponding television reception channel associated frequencies and said designated television reception channel associated frequency are the same, said one different regular television program signal associated frequency corresponding to said designated television reception channel associated frequency, said multi-information selection interface means further comprising mode selection means operatively connected between said subscriber distribution network and said first signal selection means for enabling independent subscriber selection between a normal mode state and a multi-information mode state, said one different regular television program information signal being selectably passed directly to said multichannel television receiver in said normal mode state while reception of said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal by said first signal separation means is disabled, said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal being selectably provided to said first signal separation means in said multi-information mode state while direct passage of said one different regular television program information signal to said multichannel television receiver at said same associated frequency is disabled, whereby said improved subscriber television reception system may selectably receive either said multi-information television programming or said regular television programming on the same designated television reception channel.

31. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said first signal separation means comprises demultiplexer means for demultiplexing said multiplexed multi-information television program communication signal and providing a demultiplexed output signal comprising said plurality of simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals and first band pass filter means operatively connected to said demultiplexer means for receiving said demultiplexed output signal and providing said first pass band output signal.

32. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 31 wherein said signal selection means comprises mixer means operatively connected to said first band pass filter means for receiving said first pass band output signal as one input thereto, means for selectably providing a variable mixing frequency signal to another input of said mixer means, said mixing frequency signal having a selectably variable associated frequency which when mixed with said first pass band output signal in said mixer means converts the selected one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into a mixer output signal comprising said designated television reception channel associated frequency, and second band pass filter means operatively connected to said mixer means for receiving said mixer output signal and providing a second pass band output signal comprising only said frequency converted selected one of said plurality of related different program information signals to said multi-channel television receiver.

33. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said selectably variable mixing frequency signal providing means comprises mixing frequency synthesizer means for synthesizing said mixing frequency signal, keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably varying the mixing frequency signal to be synthesized dependent on the key selected and command signal storage means operatively connected between said synthesizer means and said keyboard means for generating a variable command signal to said synthesizer means dependent on the key selected, said synthesizer means being responsive to said variable command signal for determining said mixing frequency signal based thereon, a different one of said keys corresponding to a different one of said simultaneously transmitted selectable plurality of related different information message signals.

34. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said command signal storage means comprises read only memory means.

35. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 34 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency synthesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

36. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency synthesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

37. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said signal selection means comprises mixer means operatively connected to said first signal separation means for receiving said first pass band output signal as one input thereto, means for selectably providing a variable mixing frequency signal to another input of said mixer means, said mixing frequency signal having a selectably variable associated frequency which when mixed with said first pass band output signal in said mixer means converts the selected one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into a mixer output signal comprising said designated television reception channel associated frequency, and second band pass filter means operatively connected to said mixer means for receiving said mixer output signal and providing a second pass band output signal comprising only said frequency converted selected one of said plurality of related different program information signals to said multichannel television receiver.

38. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 37 wherein said selectably variable mixing frequency signal providing means comprises mixing frequency synthesizer means for synthesizing said mixing frequency signal, keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably varying the mixing frequency signal to be synthesized dependent on the key selected and command signal storage means operatively connected between said synthesizer means and said keyboard means for generating a variable command signal to said synthesizer means dependent on the key selected, said synthesizer means being responsive to said variable command signal for determining said mixing frequency signal based thereon, a different one of said keys corresponding to a different one of said simultaneously transmitted selectable plurality of related different information message signals.

39. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said mixing frequency synthesizer means comprises digital mixing frequency sythesizer means comprising a reference oscillator and a phase locked loop, said phase locked loop comprising a tunable voltage controlled oscillator means and a digital frequency divider means having a selectably variable division ratio, said digital frequency divider means being operatively connected in a digitally variable feedback servo loop with said voltage controlled oscillator for selectably tuning said voltage controlled oscillator dependent on said selected frequency divider means division ratio, said keyboard selectable stored command signals corresponding to said variable division ratios, said division ratio varying in response to variations in said keyboard selected command signal.

40. An improved subscriber television reception system in accordance with claim 29 wherein said signal selection means comprises keyboard means comprising a plurality of keys for selectably enabling said converting of any one of said associated frequencies of said simultaneously provided frequency separated related different program information message signals into said designated television reception channel associated frequency dependent on the key selected.