Cable television program capacity enhancement

Claim 2

In a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, the method of enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, said method including: processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver; and said processing step including filtering the cable transmitted signals to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, signals on each said path having frequencies different from signals on another said path, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of said local channels, and converting the frequencies of said certain signals to the frequencies of said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said connecting step comprises switching the receiver input into signal receiving communication with different of said groups of signals.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said processing step is effected remotely from said receiver, and said connecting step is effected proximate said receiver.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said processing step is effected remotely from multiple receivers, and said connecting step comprises switching the input of any of said receivers into signal receiving communication with a selected group of said resultant signals.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein said switching is effected proximate said receiver.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein said converting step includes providing a fixed oscillatory signal, and heterodyning said fixed signal with said certain signals.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 including the step of transmitting said fixed signal on said cable.

Claim 9

In a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, apparatus enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, comprising: means for processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selector means for selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver, said processing means including band pass filter means connected to filter the cable transmitted signals and to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, signals on each said path having frequencies different from signals on another said path, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of the local channels, and converter means connected to convert the frequencies of said certain signals to said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path.

Claim 10

In a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, apparatus enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, comprising: means for processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selector means for selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver, said processing means including band pass filter means connected to filter the cable transmitted signals and to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, signals on each said path having frequencies different from signals on another said path, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of the local channels, and converter means connected to convert the frequencies of said certain signals to said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path.

Claim 11

The system of claim 8 wherein said converter means includes a local oscillator and a modulator to mix the oscillator output and said certain signals.

Claim 12

The system of claim 8 wherein said converter means includes a modulator to mix a fixed oscillatory signal with said certain signals, and including means to transmit said oscillatory signal from said cable to said modulator.

Claim 13

The system of claim 8 wherein said selector means comprises a multiposition switch located proximate a receiver.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11 wherein said signal processing means is located remotely from said receiver.

Claim 15

The system of claim 8 wherein said signal processing means is located remotely from multiple receivers, said selector means comprising a switch located proximate one of the receivers, there being other selector means as defined in claim 8 and comprising switches located proximate others of said receivers.

Claim 16

The system of claim 8 wherein said processing means is located at the cable tap from which television signals are supplied to multiple receivers.

Claim 17

For use in a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, apparatus enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, comprising: means for processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selector means for selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver, said processing means including band pass filter means connected to filter the cable transmitted signals and to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, signals on each said path having frequencies differing from signals on another said path, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of the local channels, and converter means connected to convert the frequencies of said certain signals to said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path.

Claim 18

For use in a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, apparatus enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, comprising: means for processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selector means for selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver, said processing means including band pass filter means connected to filter the cable transmitted signals and to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, signals on each said path having frequencies differing from signals on another said path, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of the local channels, and converter means connected to convert the frequencies of said certain signals to said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said converter means includes a modulator to mix a fixed oscillatory signal with said certain signals, and including means to transmit said oscillatory signal to said modulator.

Claim 20

For use in a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, apparatus enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, comprising: means for processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selector means for selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver; said processing means including band pass filter means connected to filter the cable transmitted signals and to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of the local channels, and converter means connected to convert the frequencies of said certain signals to said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path; said converter means including a modulator to mix a fixed oscillatory signal with said certain signals, and including means to transmit said oscillatory signal to said modulator; there being three groups of said resultant signals and characterized in that said band pass filter means supplies cable transmitted signals of the approximate frequencies 132174 mc. on one of said paths; signals of the approximate frequencies 174- 216 mc. on a second of said paths; and signals of the approximate frequencies 216- 240 mc. on the third of said paths.

Claim 21

For use in a system wherein a distribution cable is operable to transmit TV signals to TV receivers each having a limited number of local channels, apparatus enabling selective reception on said channels of cable distributed programs the number of which exceeds the number of said local channels, comprising: means for processing said signals to derive at least two groups of resultant signals characterized in that the resultant signals of each group have carrier frequencies corresponding to those characteristic of said local channels; and selector means for selectively and individually connecting said resultant groups of signals with the input to a TV receiver; said processing means including band pass filter means connected to filter the cable transmitted signals and to transmit them on multiple parallel paths associated with said resultant signal groups, certain signals on at least one of said paths having carrier frequencies out of correspondence to those characteristic of the local channels, and converter means connected to convert the frequencies of said certain signals to said resultant signals of a group associated with said one path; said converter means including a modulator to mix a fixed oscillatory signal with said certain signals, and including means to transmit said oscillatory signal to said modulator; there being three groups of said resultant signals and characterized in that said band pass filter means supplies cable transmitted signals of the approximate frequencies 132174 mc. on one of said paths; signals of the approximate frequencies 174- 216 mc. on a second of said paths; and signals of the approximate frequencies 216- 240 mc. on the third of said paths.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said fixed oscillatory signal is of approximately 42 mc.