US5331412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tamper resistant apparatus for a CATV system
Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt LLC
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Filing: 1993-07-09
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2013-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A circuit is supplied at the tap from a feeder which monitors certain signals coming from the single dwelling interdiction unit (SDI unit), and if the signals are interrupted, removes service from the premises. In order for service to be reinstituted to the subscriber DC power from the SDI unit must be received at the tap and the tap address must be communicated from memory in the SDI unit (where it had been previously stored upon installation by an installer) to the tap microprocessor. In accordance with an alternative embodiment in order for the service denial switch to remain closed, supplying signals to the SDI unit then to the home, the following must occur. Direct current power must be supplied from the SDI unit to the tap and data must be supplied from the SDI unit, in the form of pulses going from the normal powering level of, for example 12 volts, to 0 volts momentarily on a continual basis and not just at initialization as in the first embodiment. This data communicates a "keep alive" message to the tap, and may be changed from time to time. In accordance with another embodiment, AC power may be supplied by the SDI unit to the tap instead of DC power.
Inventors
- 👤 James O. Farmer
- 👤 W. Brad Thatcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/76; H04H20/77; H04H20/78; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H04N7/16; H04N7/161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for preventing the unauthorized reception of signals in a CATV system comprising the following steps: 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 at said tap, said power and said previously programmed address; comparing said previously programmed address against a tap address maintained in said tap; and allowing said 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 during said comparing step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for preventing the unauthorized reception of signals in a CATV system comprising the following steps: 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 at said tap, said power and said previously programmed address; comparing said previously programmed address against a tap address maintained in said tap; and allowing said 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 during said comparing step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein said sending step further comprises the step of alternately connecting and disconnecting said power from said drop cable to send said previously programmed address to said tap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as in claim 2, wherein said receiving step further comprises the step of temporarily storing said power at said tap to drive said tap during periods when said power is disconnected from said drop cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein said allowing step further comprises the step of disallowing said signals from being transmitted to said programmable program security device when said previously programmed address and said tap address are determined to be different during said comparing step.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
121 words
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.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said sending means comprises a microprocessor, and said previously programmed address is stored in a nonvolatile memory coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said comparing means comprises a microprocessor, and said tap address is maintained by wiring jumpers coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said sending means sends said previously programmed address at periodic intervals to said tap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said sending means sends said previously programmed address by intermittently interrupting and reconnecting said power from said drop cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said allowing means comprises a data carrier bypass for allowing control data to be bypassed to said programmable program security device when said previously programmed address is determined be different from said tap address.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said comparing means comprises a microprocessor and a capacitor for providing a temporary source of power to said microprocessor when said power is temporarily interrupted, and wherein said allowing means comprises a switch coupled to said microprocessor for interrupting said television signals when said power has been disconnected from said receiving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
125 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tap apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising carrier bypass means for connecting a passband of frequencies of said cable television signal to said second terminal when said connecting means has disconnected said cable television signal from said second terminal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The tap apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising decoding means for decoding said address by detecting a presence and an absence of said power, and further comprising a temporary power source for driving said tap apparatus during periods of temporary power interruption caused by said absence of said power.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The tap apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising a second receiving means, coupled to said second terminal, for receiving a tap address request from said drop line, and tap address sending means, responsive to said second receiving means, for sending said tap address over said drop line when said tap address request is received.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tap apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said tap address sending means sends said tap address by controlling said connecting means to alternately connect and disconnect said cable television signal from said second terminal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
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.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 17, wherein said receiving means comprises a microprocessor, and said storage means comprises a nonvolatile memory coupled to said microprocessor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 18, further comprising a data receiver, coupled to said terminal, for receiving data from said drop cable, wherein said data receiver comprises an automatic gain control output.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 19, wherein said data receiver provides said gain control output to said microprocessor for decoding data modulated onto said drop cable by said tap apparatus.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |