Secured communications system
First Claim
1. In a communications system including an information source for transmitting a plurality of information signals from a central location, and at least two means for receiving signals, each at a preselected frequency, and each being disposed at a different subscriber'"'"'s location and each having a corresponding drop line connected thereto, a control network comprising:
- a channel selection means at each of the subscriber'"'"'s locations for generating command signals corresponding to said information signals;
verification means in communicative connection with said channel selection means and interposed between said information source and channel selection means and operable for generating a control signal in response to a valid command signal; and
a microprocessor-tuned frequency conversion means physically separate from and space apart from the at least two signal receiving means and connected thereto through the corresponding drop lines, said frequency conversion means being interposed between the verification means and the at least two signal receiving means and operable to selectively pass one of said plurality of information signals to each of said signal receiving means at the preselected frequency thereof through the corresponding drop line thereof in response to a corresponding one of said command signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for reducing the cost and complexity of equipment placed on subscribers'"'"' premises in a subscription communications system, such as a cable television system, while at the same time providing security against unauthorized system access includes a microprocessor controlled frequency converter in proximity to the subscriber'"'"'s premises to convert information transmission signals to subscriber-receivable frequencies; a channel selection unit at the subscriber'"'"'s premises for producing a command signal to initiate the transmission of information to the subscriber; and a verification circuit coupled to receive the command signals, to verify the same and electronically to instruct the microprocessor. The microprocessor may be provided with plural, plug-in converter modules for feeding signals to several subscribers and may be made responsive to subscriber generated auxiliary function signals from alarm detector units, utility meter reading devices, and the like.
159 Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a communications system including an information source for transmitting a plurality of information signals from a central location, and at least two means for receiving signals, each at a preselected frequency, and each being disposed at a different subscriber'"'"'s location and each having a corresponding drop line connected thereto, a control network comprising:
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a channel selection means at each of the subscriber'"'"'s locations for generating command signals corresponding to said information signals; verification means in communicative connection with said channel selection means and interposed between said information source and channel selection means and operable for generating a control signal in response to a valid command signal; and a microprocessor-tuned frequency conversion means physically separate from and space apart from the at least two signal receiving means and connected thereto through the corresponding drop lines, said frequency conversion means being interposed between the verification means and the at least two signal receiving means and operable to selectively pass one of said plurality of information signals to each of said signal receiving means at the preselected frequency thereof through the corresponding drop line thereof in response to a corresponding one of said command signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a communication system including a source of information signals and a plurality of means for receiving signals, each at a preselected frequency, a control network comprising:
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a plurality of channel selection means, each corresponding to one of a plurality of signal receiving means, and operable for generating a command signal; a microprocessor in communicative connection with said plurality of channel selection means for generating, for each of said channel selection means, a verification signal and a first tuning signal in response to said command signal; frequency conversion means in communicative connection with said microprocessor, said source of information signals and said plurality of signal receiving means for tuning a first preselected one of said information signals to the preselected frequency of one of said signal receiving means in response to said first tuning signal; verification means in communicative connection with said microprocessor for generating control signals of a first and second type in response to said verification signal; said microprocessor generating a second tuning signal in response to said control signal of said first type; wherein said frequency conversion means is operable for tuning a second preselected one of said information signals to the preselected frequency of said one signal receiving means in response to said second tuning signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing secure subscription communication of a plurality of information signals from a central location to at least two subscriber locations, each subscriber location having means for receiving signals of a preselected frequency through a corresponding subscriber drop line, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tunable frequency converter physically separated from and spaced apart from the signal receiving means at said subscriber locations, said tunable frequency converter interconnecting said information signals from said central location with each of said signal receiving means at said subscriber locations through said corresponding drop line; generating a command signal at a first of the subscriber locations; tuning said frequency converter in response to said command signal for converting a first preselected one of said plurality of information signals to the preselected frequency of a first signal receiving means at said first subscriber location; and delivering said first preselected one of said information signals at the preselected frequency of said first signal receiving means to said first subscriber location via said corresponding drop line. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification