Enhanced versatility of a program control by a combination of technologies
AssigneeScientific-Atlanta, Inc.
InventorsLamar E. West, Steve Nussrallah
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A program control system for controlling access to premium programming and/or premium channels comprises a program control apparatus which may incorporate one or more subscriber modules. The subscriber modules may use one or more different types of program control technologies to provide different subscribers with different levels of access as well as different levels of security. One subscriber module may comprise a program control apparatus for interdicting premium programming signals transmitted "in the clear". Other modules may comprise positive or negative traps or bandstop filters. The program control apparatus allows a cable television provider to apply new or different program control technologies on a subscriber by subscriber basis.
Claims5
In a cable television system comprising a headend for transmitting programs over a cable television service spectrum to a plurality of subscribers and an off premises program control apparatus for selectively denying certain programs to the plurality of subscribers, said program control apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of subscriber modules, each associated with one of the plurality of subscribers and selectively denying certain programs to the associated subscriber;
- and
- at least two of said modules using a different program denial technology, wherein each program denial technology is chosen based on the selection of service level for the associated subscriber.
A program control apparatus for selectively denying certain programs transmitted over a cable television service spectrum of a cable television system from a headend to a plurality of subscribers, said program control comprising:
- a first subscriber module for selectively denying programs to at least one subscriber using an interdiction program denial technology;
- a second subscriber module for selectively denying programs to another subscriber using a second program denial technology, wherein said second program denial technology is based on the selection of service level for said another subscriber;
- control means, coupled to said first and second subscriber modules, for receiving control signals from the headend and for controlling said first and second subscriber modules to control access to at least a portion of the cable television service spectrum in accordance with said control signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.