Initialization technique and apparatus for set top converters
First Claim
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1. An installation procedures for a television set top converter for use in a television distribution system comprising the steps of:
- pre-programming said converter with a first set of proprietary data by transmitting by a hand held infrared transmitter a data stream formatted in a plurality of fields comprising binary data;
receiving by said set top converter said data stream and detecting said binary data;
loading the detected binary data into nonvolatile memory in said set top converter;
setting said set top converter to a first state permitting limited access to channels in said distribution system;
initiating a timeout counter in said set top converter when the set top converter is set to said first state;
completing the programming of the converter by addressing the converter from a head end of the distribution system and transmitting a second set of proprietary data to the addressed converter; and
if said timeout counter times out before said completing step, inhibiting all access to channels in said distribution system by said set top converter.
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Abstract
A CATV/MDS set top converter installation process is performed at the installation site without access to any internal components of the converter. The process is performed in two stages. In the first stage, the converter is pre-programmed with a first set of proprietary data by the installer using a hand held IR transmitter. In the second stage, the converter is addressed over-the-air by the addressing computer at the head end of the system to program the converter with a second set of proprietary data.
265 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An installation procedures for a television set top converter for use in a television distribution system comprising the steps of:
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pre-programming said converter with a first set of proprietary data by transmitting by a hand held infrared transmitter a data stream formatted in a plurality of fields comprising binary data; receiving by said set top converter said data stream and detecting said binary data; loading the detected binary data into nonvolatile memory in said set top converter; setting said set top converter to a first state permitting limited access to channels in said distribution system; initiating a timeout counter in said set top converter when the set top converter is set to said first state; completing the programming of the converter by addressing the converter from a head end of the distribution system and transmitting a second set of proprietary data to the addressed converter; and if said timeout counter times out before said completing step, inhibiting all access to channels in said distribution system by said set top converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An installation procedures for a television ste top converter for use in a television distribution system comprising the steps of:
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pre-programming said converter with a first set of proprietary data by transmitting by a hand held infrared transmitter a data stream formatted in a plurality of fields comprising binary data; receiving by said set top converter said data stream and detecting said binary data; loading the detected binary data into nonvolatile memory in said set top converter; setting said set top converter to a first state permitting limited access to channels in said distribution system; addressing the converter from a head end of the distribution system ad transmitting a second set of proprietary data to the addressed converter; checking to determine if the addressed converter is in said first state; and if so, loading a working address into said nonvolatile memory and swiching said set top converter to a second state allowing access to channels in said distribution system according to said second set of proprietary data. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. The process recited in calim 8 further comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a feature command from said head end; receiving and detecting at said converter said feature command; checking at said converter to determine if said converter is set to said second state; and if so, enabling or disabling the feature of the command according to the command by storing data pertaining to said command in said nonvolatile memory.
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10. Apparatus for pre-programming a television set top converter for use in a television distribution system comprising:
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hand held infrared transmitter means for transmitting a data stream formatted in a plurality of fields comprising binary data, said binary data being a first set of proprietary data; infrared receiver means in said set top converter for receiving said data stream and detecting said binary data; a nonvolatile memory in said set top converter for storing proprietary data; means for loading the detected binary data into said nonvolatile memory and setting said set top converter to a first state permitting limited access to channels in said distribution system; radio frequency receiver means responsive to transmissions from a head end of said distribution system addressing the converter for receiving a second set of proprietary data; and means responsive to said radio frequency receiver means for checking to determine if the converter is in said first state and, if so, loading a working address into said nonvolatile memory and switching said set top converter to a second state allowing access to channels in said distribution system according to said second set of proprietary data. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification