US 6,493,876 B1 · System and method for providing a full service television system

Abstract

A system and method are provided for providing a full service cable television system. The cable system incorporates a digital and analog transmission architecture capable of delivering a high number of high quality television programs, advanced cable services, and online services to a subscriber's home. The cable system comprises a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. Programs and services are transmitted to the set-top terminals in both digital and analog formats to maintain downward compatibility with existing systems. The set-top terminal incorporates a central processing unit, a unified memory architecture, a memory management unit, communications circuitry, I/O control circuitry, and audio and video output circuitry. Through these components the set-top terminal provides advanced cable services such as a comprehensive channel navigator, an interactive program guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View activation, Near-Video-On-Demand and Video-On-Demand programming, and advanced configuration controls. The set-top terminal also provides online services such as World Wide Web browsing, Internet E-Mail, and Home Shopping.

Claims23

Dependent claims

Apparatus for activating television services, said apparatus comprising:

an input device for selecting a set-top terminal television channel;
memory;
a first table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of set-top terminal channel numbers and a plurality of first pointers, each channel number associated with a first pointer;
a second table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of identifiers and a plurality of second pointers, each identifier identifying a type of television service, each identifier associated with a second pointer, and each said first pointer pointing to one of said identifiers;
and
a third table stored in said memory that includes at least one parameter for accessing a source of one of said television services, said parameter pointed to by one of said second pointers;
and
a central processing unit in communication with said input device and coupled to said memory;
wherein said central processing unit displays contents of said source in response to receiving a selected television channel from said input device, said central processing unit using said first, second, and third tables to associate said selected television channel with said source.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for providing a full service television system

Life of this patent

System and method for providing a full service television system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23