Cable network data transmission system
First Claim
1. A signal transmission system comprising:
- (a) a head end,(b) a transmission medium, connected to the head end, for carrying signals from the head end,(c) a plurality of subscriber stations connected to the transmission medium,(d) means at said subscriber stations for receiving and storing predetermined station address signals from the transmission medium,(e) means at said subscriber stations which have stored said station address signals, for receiving and storing program signals from said transmission medium having an address component which matches said stored address signals,(f) means at said subscriber stations having certain ones of said station address signals for receiving further signals from the transmission medium, having an address component which matches said certain ones of said address signals, and for translating said further signals, said translation being dependent on the prior storage of said program signals.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing television, information and data signals via a transmission network to selected subscribers, to groups of subscribers, or to all subscribers connected in common to the transmission network. An address code signal is stored at the subscriber station, and an option code signal is sent to the particular subscriber station from a head end of the network. Signals having an address portion designative of the option code or address code signal are sent down the transmission line and are translated by the subscriber station in the event the address matches the first and second code signal. Thus signals can be sent to all subscribers which have option codes designated by the address of data packets transmitted down the transmission line. These groups of subscribers can be all subscribers, individual smaller groups of subscribers, or a group consisting of even a single subscriber. The option codes can be changed from the head end at will. Consequently data can be transmitted to various subscribers designated form the head end under its complete control. The data can be control signals for controlling the unscrambling of pay-TV signals, software for operating a microcomputer peripheral, data to enable operation of a local television channel converter to facilitate selection of particular channels depending on service paid for, etc. Since the option codes can be changed from the head end, cheating of the system is inhibited and the requirement to send service personnel to each subscriber to enable the acquisition of changed services is avoided.
278 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A signal transmission system comprising:
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(a) a head end, (b) a transmission medium, connected to the head end, for carrying signals from the head end, (c) a plurality of subscriber stations connected to the transmission medium, (d) means at said subscriber stations for receiving and storing predetermined station address signals from the transmission medium, (e) means at said subscriber stations which have stored said station address signals, for receiving and storing program signals from said transmission medium having an address component which matches said stored address signals, (f) means at said subscriber stations having certain ones of said station address signals for receiving further signals from the transmission medium, having an address component which matches said certain ones of said address signals, and for translating said further signals, said translation being dependent on the prior storage of said program signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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2. A signal transmission system comprising:
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(a) a head end, (b) a transmission medium connected to the head end, for carrying signals from said head end, (c) a plurality of subscriber stations connected to the transmission medium, in which each subscriber station includes (i) means for storing a first predetermined address code signal, (ii) means for receiving from the transmission medium and storing a second predetermined option code signal, (iii) means for receiving and storing a signal having an address component designative of the first or second code signals, and (iv) means for translating said latter signal in the event the address component matches said first or second code signals, and thereby enabling operation of the subscriber station in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A signal transmission system comprising:
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(a) a head end, (b) a transmission medium connected to the head end, for carrying signals from the head end, (c) a plurality of subscriber stations connected to the transmission medium, each station comprising (i) first memory means for permanently storing a first address code signal, (ii) second memory means for storing a service code signal, (iii) third memory means for storing a control signal, (iv) means for providing a signal to a display device, (v) means for controlling the application of a signal broadcast on said transmission medium to the display device, (vi) data acquisition circuit means for applying the service code signal to the second memory means in the event of reception from the transmission medium of a service code signal having an address component matching the address code signal, and for applying to and storing a control signal in the third memory means in the event of reception of a signal from the transmission medium having a component which is an address matching the service code signal and a control signal component, and (vii) processor means for operating the controlling means according to the control signal in response to reception from the transmission medium of said broadcast signals of a kind controllable by said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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15. A subscriber station for connection to a tranmission medium for controlling the translation of signals carried by the transmission medium for application to a display device comprising:
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(i) first memory means for permanently storing a first address code signal, (ii) second memory means for storing a service code signal (iii) third memory means for storing a control signal (iv) means for providing a signal to a display device (v) means for controlling the application of a signal broadcast on said transmission medium to the display device, (vi) data acquisition circuit means for applying the service code signal to the second memory means in the event of reception from the transmission medium of a service code signal having an address component matching the address code signal, and for applying and storing a control signal to the third memory means in the event of reception of a signal from the transmission medium having an address component matching the service code signal and a control signal component, and (vii) processor means for operating the controlling means according to the control signal in response to reception from the transmission line of said broadcast signals of a kind controllable by said control signal, whereby a display signal is provided for application to the display device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification