CATV data transmission method

• US 4,716,410 A
• Filed: 05/27/1987
• Issued: 12/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Nozaki, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US07/056,351
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.52, 340/825.47, 370/85, 358/86, 358/8 X, 455/4
• US Class Current: 340/9.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/15 on receiving information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

A CATV data transmission method in which data is transmitted to terminal units having their own addresses by addressing. Each terminal unit has a memory storing its own address and a plurality of group addresses, each being used for collectively transmitting data to the terminal units in the respective group. When addressed by the data transmission side, the terminal unit performs comparison with its own address and comparison with the group addresses successively. When coincidence is obtained in the comparison, data is received from the terminal unit.

Claims

1. A CATV data transmission method, in which data is transmitted from a transmitting side to a receiving side having a first plurality of individual terminal units, each of said units having assigned an individual address, comprising:

assigning said terminal units to a second plurality of groups, each of said groups containing one or more of the terminal units, that receive collectively data transmitted from said transmitting side and are intended for each terminal in said group;

assigning a unique group address to each of said groups, thereby defining a second plurality of group addresses;

storing at each terminal unit a reference signal and at least two addresses, comprising an individual address and any applicable unique group addresses, said stored applicable unique group addresses comprising all of the unique group addresses for those of said groups to which said terminal unit is assigned;

transmitting from said transmitting side to all terminal units in common at said receiving side, a transmitted signal comprising at least (i) data intended for an individual terminal unit together with an individual address and a group address pattern, comprising at least one of said unique group addresses, or (ii) data intended collectively for one of said second plurality of groups together with a group address pattern, comprising at least one of said unique group addresses;

at each terminal unit, receiving at least said transmitted data and said group address pattern;

in each terminal unit;

initially comparing a portion of said received group address pattern with said reference signal and generating a first signal if said portion and said reference signal are identical and generating a second signal if said portion and said reference signal are not identical;

comparing a stored individual address with said transmitted signal in response to the generation of said first signal;

comparing all of said stored unique group addresses with said transmitted signal in response to the generation of said second signal; and

,

if coincidence is obtained in either of said address comparisons, processing at said terminal unit said data.