CATV subscriber apparatus with intelligent remote control
First Claim
1. Subscriber apparatus comprising a converter and a remote control,said converter including:
- input terminal means for coupling a plurality of program signals to a signal path,descrambler means, coupled to said signal path, for descrambling premium program signals included in said plurality, andmeans, coupled to said signal path and responsive to said remote control, for outputting a descrambled premium program signal for reproduction upon authorization from said remote control;
and wherein said remote control includes;
memory means for storing data authorizing the reproduction of a premium program signal;
means for selecting said premium program signal for reproduction, andtransmitter means, responsive to said selecting means and data stored in the memory means, for transmitting a signal to said converter authorizing the output of the selected premium program signal for reproduction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Subscriber apparatus for a cable television system or the like comprises a converter/descrambler and a programmable remote control. All authorization data for premium services and features a subscriber is entitled to receive are stored in the remote control. Program/interface apparatus is provided to enable a subscriber to request additional premium services or features, such as pay-per-view programming. Authorization data for the requested services or features are transmitted by the program/interface apparatus to the remote control via an infrared signal path. A similar signal path is used by the remote control in controlling the converter/descrambler to provide the authorized services and features, such as the descrambling of a premium television channel.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. Subscriber apparatus comprising a converter and a remote control,
said converter including: -
input terminal means for coupling a plurality of program signals to a signal path, descrambler means, coupled to said signal path, for descrambling premium program signals included in said plurality, and means, coupled to said signal path and responsive to said remote control, for outputting a descrambled premium program signal for reproduction upon authorization from said remote control; and wherein said remote control includes; memory means for storing data authorizing the reproduction of a premium program signal; means for selecting said premium program signal for reproduction, and transmitter means, responsive to said selecting means and data stored in the memory means, for transmitting a signal to said converter authorizing the output of the selected premium program signal for reproduction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A programmable remote control for use with a signal converter comprising:
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a computer processor; memory means coupled to said computer processor for storing data authorizing the reproduction of a premium program signal; means coupled to said computer processor for selecting said premium program signal for reproduction; and transmitter means, responsive to said computer processor, for transmitting a signal to a converter enabling the reproduction of the selected premium program signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A converter for receiving premium service authorizations from a remote control, comprising:
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input terminal means for coupling a signal path to a source of program signals; means, independent of said input terminal means, for receiving remotely generated control signals; tuner means, coupled to said signal path and responsive to control signals received by said receiving means, for tuning to a program signal from said source; and descrambler means, coupled to said signal path and responsive to control signals received by said receiving means, for descrambling a premium program signal tuned by said tuner means only if authorized by said control signals. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. Subscriber apparatus for programming a remote control used in ordering premium services over a communication network, comprising:
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a data controller coupled to communicate with a headend controller; first receiver means coupled to said data controller for receiving a premium service order signal from a remote control; means operatively associated with said data controller and responsive to data received from said headend controller for providing premium service authorization data in response to an order signal received by said first receiver means; and first transmitter means responsive to said data controller, for transmitting said premium service authorization data to said remote control. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A device for programming a handheld remote control with data authorizing the receipt of services or use of features by apparatus controlled by the remote control, comprising:
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a data controller; means operatively associated with said data controller and responsive to data received from a headend for generating authorization data for use by a remote control; and transmitter means, coupled to receive the generated data from said data controller, for transmitting said data to said remote control. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A handheld remote control for use with a cable television converter comprising:
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means for receiving remotely transmitted data necessary to implement one or more subscriber features; memory means coupled to receive and store data from said receiving means; processor means, coupled to retrieve data from said memory means, for generating signals to be used in implementing subscriber features; means responsive to said processor means for transmitting said signals to a cable television converter; and security means, coupled to said transmitting means, for providing a unique security code to be transmitted enabling the use of the remote control only with a converter having a corresponding security code. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A handheld remote control for use with a cable television converter comprising:
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means for receiving remotely transmitted data necessary to implement one or more subscriber features; memory means coupled to receive and store data from said receiving means; processor means, coupled to retrieve data from said memory means, for generating signals to be used in implementing subscriber features; means responsive to said processor means for transmitting said signals to a cable television converter; means for generating a data request signal to request additional data for storage in said memory means to implement additional features; and means for coupling said signal generating means to the transmitting means for transmission of the data request signal to a programming facility; wherein said receiving means enables the receipt of additional data from said programming facility for storage in said memory means. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification