Tamper resistant apparatus for a CATV system

An apparatus for preventing the unauthorized reception of television signals in a CATV system comprising:

• sending means for sending power and a previously programmed address to a tap via a drop cable, said previously programmed address being stored in a programmable program security device;
• receiving means for receiving, at said tap, said power and said previously programmed address;
• comparing means for comparing, at said tap, said previously programmed address against a tap address maintained in said tap;
• and
• allowing means, responsive to said comparing means, for allowing, at said tap, said television signals to be transmitted to said programmable program security device when said previously programmed address and said tap address are determined to be the same by said comparing means.

A tap apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of subscription television services, comprising:

• a first terminal for accepting a cable television signal from a trunk line;
• a second terminal for providing said cable television signal to a drop line;
• receiving means, coupled to said second terminal, for receiving an address and power from said drop line;
• storage means for storing a tap address;
• comparing means for comparing said address with said tap address;
• connecting means, responsive to said comparing means and to said power, for connecting said cable television signal to said second terminal when said power is supplied and when said comparing means determines that said address and said tap address are the same, and disconnecting said cable television signal from said second terminal otherwise.

A programmable program security device, comprising:

• a terminal coupled to a drop line supplying television signals received from a tap apparatus;
• requesting means, coupled to said terminal, for requesting a tap address from said tap apparatus via said drop cable;
• receiving means, coupled to said terminal and responsive to a signal level on said drop cable, for receiving said tap address from said tap apparatus;
• storage means for storing said tap address;
• and
• sending means, coupled to said terminal, for sending power and said tap address to said tap apparatus over said drop cable, wherein said tap address is sent by alternately connecting and disconnecting said power from said drop cable.