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Method and apparatus for monitoring an information distribution system

  • US 7,607,148 B2
  • Filed: 12/14/2000
  • Issued: 10/20/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring operation of a television distribution system comprising provider equipment and subscriber equipment, said method comprising:

  • receiving, at a control unit, a directive for a television distribution system operator to use a particular terminal under control of the system operator and remote from the subscriber equipment to monitor a particular channel within a plurality of channels transmitted from a head-end of the provider equipment to the subscriber equipment through a distribution node of the television distribution system, wherein the directive is received at the control unit through a communications means not including the distribution node of the television distribution system;

    sending a command to the particular terminal, the command indicative of the particular channel to be monitored;

    receiving, at the particular terminal, content being transmitted on the particular channel through the distribution node of the television distribution system, wherein the content is being provided by the provider equipment to the subscriber equipment using the particular channel;

    capturing the received content; and

    reporting the captured content.

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