US4633309A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable television master/slave decoder control
Assignee: TV/COM TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-06
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Granted: 1986-12-30
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Expires: 2005-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of controlling the operation of slave decoders in a cable television distribution system having a central control computer; in which each subscriber location having a slave decoder also has a master decoder; in which there is a control message connection between each master decoder and its associated slave decoder(s); and in which the central control computer can individually address each master decoder and each slave decoder. The method includes the steps of transmitting control messages for the slave decoders at the control message frequency for the master decoders. In response thereto, each master decoder will retransmit the control message to its associated slave decoders. Periodically, the central control computer sends deauthorize messages addressed to all slave decoders as a group; however, the deauthorization messages are preceded by an inhibit message addressed to all master decoders, thereby preventing the retransmission of the slave decoder deauthorization message to all slave decoders which are connected to a master decoder.
Inventors
- 👤 Tony C. Li
- 👤 Graham S. Stubbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/436; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4623; H04N21/4627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of controlling the operation of slave decoders in a cable TV distribution system having a central control computer; in which each subscriber location having a slave decoder also has a master decoder; in which there is a control message connection between each master decoder and its associated slave decoder(s); and in which the central control computer can address each master decoder and each slave decoder, including the step of periodically sending from the central control computer a deauthorization message for all slave decoders, which message is preceded by an inhibit message directed to all master decoders, which inhibit message prevents the receipt of the deauthorize message by all slave decoders which are connected, by a control message connection, with a master decoder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of controlling the operation of slave decoders in a cable TV distribution system having a central control computer; in which each subscriber location having a slave decoder also has a master decoder; in which there is a control message connection between each master decoder and its associated slave decoder(s); and in which the central control computer can address each master decoder and each slave decoder, including the step of periodically sending from the central control computer a deauthorization message for all slave decoders, which message is preceded by an inhibit message directed to all master decoders, which inhibit message prevents the receipt of the deauthorize message by all slave decoders which are connected, by a control message connection, with a master decoder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized by and including the step of transmitting control messages for the slave decoders at the control message frequency for the master decoders; in response thereto retransmitting, from the master decoder, through the control message connection, the control message for its associated slave decoder(s).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 further characterized in that the control message from a master decoder to its associated slave decoder(s) is at a frequency different than the control message frequency for the master decoders.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 further characterized by and including the step of preventing a control message from a master decoder to its associated slave decoder(s) from passing into the cable television distribution system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that each master/slave control message connection utilizes the splitter which connects all master and slave decoders with the cable television distribution system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that each master/slave control message connection utilizes a separate connection between each master decoder and its associated slave decoder(s).
Claim 8
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of controlling the operation of slave decoders in a cable TV distribution system having a central control computer; in which each subscriber location having a slave decoder also has a master decoder; and in which the central control computer can address each master decoder and each slave decoder, including the step of periodically sending from the central control computer a deauthorization message for all slave decoders, which message is preceded by an inhibit message directed to all master decoders, which inhibit message prevents the receipt of the deauthorized message by all slave decoders which are associated with a master decoder.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of controlling the operation of slave decoders in a cable TV distribution system having a central control computer; in which each subscriber location having a slave decoder also has a master decoder; and in which the central control computer can address each master decoder and each slave decoder, including the step of periodically sending from the central control computer a deauthorization message for all slave decoders, which message is preceded by an inhibit message directed to all master decoders, which inhibit message prevents the receipt of the deauthorized message by all slave decoders which are associated with a master decoder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7 further characterized in that a master decoder, upon receipt of an inhibit message, uses a control channel filter to interrupt a subsequent slave decoder deauthorization message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 further characterized in that a master decoder, upon receipt of an inhibit message, interrupts a subsequent slave decoder deauthorization message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 further characterized in that a master decoder, upon receipt of an inhibit message, prevents, a slave decoder from receiving a subsequent slave decoder deauthorization message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 further characterized in that a slave decoder inhibits the reaction to a deauthorization message for all slave decoders upon the receipt of an inhibit message from its associated master decoder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-29 | 1990-06-30 | 1990-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-29 | 1994-06-30 | 1994-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-29 | 1998-06-30 | 1998-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |