Video distribution control system
First Claim
1. An interactive cable television control and transmission system comprising a central station, a plurality of subscriber terminals, a plurality of subscriber distribution terminals each including a plurality of separate subscriber drops each for connection to a respective one of a plurality of the subscriber terminals, and a tree-type transmission connecting said central station to each of said distribution terminals, each of said central station, said distribution terminals and said subscriber terminals including means for transmitting and receiving digital signals whereby data from each subscriber terminal can be communicated to said central station said central station also comprising a source of television signals arranged in a plurality of separate channels, and means for developing for each subscriber terminal a list of channels accessible by that terminal, each said subscriber terminal comprising a television terminal, manually operable means for designating a required one of the television channels and means for generating a digital channel request signal dependent upon said required channel, each said subscriber distribution terminal comprising a plurality of television converters each connected to a respective subscriber drop for transmitting to the respective terminal a television channel, microprocessor means arranged to repeatedly transmit to each subscriber terminal in turn a digital signal requesting said digital channel request signal, to receive from said central station and store said lists of channels accessible by the terminals and to compare said request signal with said list for each terminal, and control signal generating means for generating a control signal to control each converter whereby to supply to the respective terminal the requested accessible channel.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A subscriber distribution terminal is connected to the transmission medium for serving a group of subscribers. Within the distribution control terminal is located a plurality of television converters. A local oscillator in each of the converters is controlled by a microprocessor, which establishes the channel selected from the multi-channel television signal received from the transmission medium. The output of each converter is connected to a subscriber drop which is connected to the subscribers television set.
260 Citations
9 Claims
- 1. An interactive cable television control and transmission system comprising a central station, a plurality of subscriber terminals, a plurality of subscriber distribution terminals each including a plurality of separate subscriber drops each for connection to a respective one of a plurality of the subscriber terminals, and a tree-type transmission connecting said central station to each of said distribution terminals, each of said central station, said distribution terminals and said subscriber terminals including means for transmitting and receiving digital signals whereby data from each subscriber terminal can be communicated to said central station said central station also comprising a source of television signals arranged in a plurality of separate channels, and means for developing for each subscriber terminal a list of channels accessible by that terminal, each said subscriber terminal comprising a television terminal, manually operable means for designating a required one of the television channels and means for generating a digital channel request signal dependent upon said required channel, each said subscriber distribution terminal comprising a plurality of television converters each connected to a respective subscriber drop for transmitting to the respective terminal a television channel, microprocessor means arranged to repeatedly transmit to each subscriber terminal in turn a digital signal requesting said digital channel request signal, to receive from said central station and store said lists of channels accessible by the terminals and to compare said request signal with said list for each terminal, and control signal generating means for generating a control signal to control each converter whereby to supply to the respective terminal the requested accessible channel.
Specification