Control over coax for tv signal reception devices

TV signal distribution system for distributing received TV signals between a plurality of end-user TV sets, the system comprising at least one programmable filter device and a programming unit for programming the programmable filter device, the programmable filter device comprising:

• a number of programmable filter circuits for filtering a spectrum of one or more TV channels from an input signal,
• at least one coaxial output interface connected to the programmable filter circuits for connecting a network of coaxial cables for supplying the spectrum of one or more TV channels to the end-user TV sets, and
• a controller for setting the programmable filter circuits according to settings stored in a reprogrammable memory, the TV signal distribution system further comprising an interface system for connecting the programming unit to the programmable filter device and exchanging control signals for programming the reprogrammable memory, characterised in that the interface system comprises:
• a modem in the programmable filter device for coupling the control signals between the programmable filter device and the at least one coaxial output interface used for supplying the spectrum of one or more TV channels to the end-user TV sets, and
• an interface device connectable to the network of coaxial cables and provided for coupling the control signals between the network and the programming unit.

Method for programming at least one programmable filter device in a TV signal distribution system which distributes received TV signals between a plurality of end-user TV sets, the programmable filter device comprising:

• a number of programmable filter circuits filtering a spectrum of one or more TV channels from an input signal,
• at least one coaxial output interface connected to the programmable filter circuits to which a network of coaxial cables are connected for supplying the spectrum of one or more TV channels to the end-user TV sets, and
• a controller which sets the programmable filter circuits according to settings stored in a reprogrammable memory, the method comprising the steps of
• providing an interface system for connecting a programming unit to the programmable filter device and
• exchanging control signals for programming the reprogrammable memory between the programming unit and the programmable filter device via the interface system, characterised in that the control signals between the programming unit and the programmable filter device are exchanged using part of the network of coaxial cables between an interface device and a modem in the programmable filter device, the interface device being connected to the network of coaxial cables and coupling the control signals between the network and the programming unit, the modem in the programmable filter device coupling the control signals between the programmable filter device and the at least one coaxial output interface.