Interdiction program denial system for jamming audio and video signals

Claim 2

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency with in said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 3

The interdiction apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one oscillator means is a frequency agile oscillator.

Claim 4

The interdiction apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle.

Claim 5

The interdiction apparatus of claim 3, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means, for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting the frequency of said first jamming signal.

Claim 6

The interdiction apparatus of claims 3 or 4, wherein said jamming cycle comprises at least a first interval and a second interval.

Claim 7

The interdiction apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control means selects a first jamming signal carrier frequency for said first interval and selects a second jamming signal carrier frequency for said second interval wherein said first jamming signal carrier frequency is unequal to said second jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 8

The interdiction apparatus of claim 6, wherein said second jamming carrier frequency is within a frequency range which also includes said video carrier frequency.

Claim 9

The interdiction apparatus of claim 7 wherein said frequency range extends from 100 kHz below said video carrier frequency to 250 kHz above said video carrier frequency.

Claim 10

The interdiction apparatus of claim 5, wherein said jamming cycle is longer than the sum of said first interval and said second interval.

Claim 11

The interdiction apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control means further controls the length of each of said intervals.

Claim 12

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel, and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer, greater than one and less than ten; and means for interdicting said jamming said carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 13

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel, and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer, greater than one and less than ten; and means for interdicting said jamming said carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 14

The interdiction apparatus of claim 11, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means, for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 15

The interdiction apparatus of claim 11 or 12, wherein said jamming cycle is longer than the sum of said first interval and said second interval.

Claim 16

The interdiction apparatus of claim 13, wherein said control means further controls the length of each of said first and second intervals.

Claim 17

The interdiction apparatus of claim 18, wherein said range extends from 100 kiloHertz below said video carrier frequency to 250 kiloHertz above said video carrier frequency.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16, wherein said step of combining further comprises: combining said jamming signal carrier with at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum for at least one interval of a jamming cycle to produce a combined signal.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17, wherein said step of combining further comprises step of: receiving a communication from a cable television headend for selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 22

The method of claim 17, wherein said step of combining further comprises the step of: combining said jamming signal carrier with at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum for at least a first interval and combining a second jamming signal carrier with at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum for at least a second interval, wherein said jamming signal carrier frequency is unequal to said second jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 23

The method of claim 19, wherein said step of combining further comprises the steps of: controlling the length of said first interval and said second interval in a random manner.

Claim 24

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second jamming intervals in said jamming cycle in a random manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 25

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second jamming intervals in said jamming cycle in a random manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 26

The interdiction apparatus of claim 21, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 27

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second jamming intervals in said jamming cycle in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 28

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second jamming intervals in said jamming cycle in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 29

The interdiction apparatus of claim 23, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 30

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a random manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 31

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a random manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 32

The interdiction apparatus of claim 25, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 33

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies with at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 34

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one oscillator means for sequentially generating a plurality of jamming signal carriers at different frequencies with at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum, and control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling said jamming signal carrier frequencies of said at least one oscillator means for at least a first and second interval of a jamming cycle, said control means selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said first interval to be at a frequency within a range including a video carrier frequency of a cable television channel and selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency during said second interval to be substantially equal to the sum of said video carrier frequency and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and an audio carrier frequency of said cable television channel, where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said jamming signal carriers into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the video and audio signals of the programming.

Claim 35

The interdiction apparatus of claim 27, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting said jamming signal carrier frequency.

Claim 36

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second jamming intervals in said jamming cycle in a random manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 37

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second jamming intervals in said jamming cycle in a random manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 38

The interdiction apparatus of claim 29, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting the frequency of said first jamming signal.

Claim 39

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second intervals in said jamming cycle in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 40

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the order of said first and second intervals in said jamming cycle in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 41

The interdiction apparatus of claim 30, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting the frequency of said first jamming signal.

Claim 42

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a random manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 43

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a random manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 44

The interdiction apparatus of claim 33, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting the frequency of said first jamming signal.

Claim 45

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 46

A cable television interdiction apparatus for selectively jamming programming transmitted to a subscriber over at least a portion of a broadband cable television spectrum wherein said programming comprises video signals having a video carrier frequency and associated audio signals having an audio carrier frequency, said apparatus comprising: at least one frequency agile oscillator means for selectively generating a first jamming signal having a frequency within at least a portion of said broadband cable television spectrum substantially equal to the sum of a video carrier frequency within said spectrum and a fraction 1/N of the difference between said video carrier frequency and said audio carrier frequency associated with said video carrier where N is an integer greater than one and less than ten; control means, operatively coupled to said at least one oscillator means for selectively controlling the frequency of said first jamming signal of said at least one oscillator means for a selected interval of a jamming cycle comprising at least a first interval and a second interval, said control means further controlling the length of each of said first and second intervals in a pseudorandom manner; and means for interdicting said first jamming signal into said programming to prevent unauthorized reception of the audio and video signals of the programming.

Claim 47

The interdiction apparatus of claim 35, wherein said control means further comprises: communication means for communicating with a cable television headend and receiving signals for selecting the frequency of said first jamming signal.