Interdiction method and apparatus with direct memory control of variable frequency elements

Claim 2

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency, and means for selectively outputting said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence; a plurality of jamming frequency generators comprising a plurality of digital to analog converters, each digital to analog converter having an associated input latch, the plurality of digital to analog converters for receiving said predetermined sequence of frequency control words from said associated input latches and for outputting analog voltage levels representative of said predetermined sequence, and a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators, each having a switched output, for receiving said analog voltage levels and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; means for selectively controlling each frequency generator by blanking the voltage controlled oscillator while changing the frequency control word in said digital to analog converter input latch, unblanking the oscillator after a settling time, and dwelling on the generated frequency for a predetermined period of time; and means for combining said jamming signals with said broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 3

An interdiction system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for combining includes: means for automatically compensating the amplitude of the broadband signal to a reference level before combining it with said jamming signals.

Claim 4

An interdiction system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for combining include: means for automatically compensating the amplitude of said jamming signals to a reference level before combining them with said broadband signal.

Claim 5

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selective controlling means includes: means for generating a plurality of switching signals for selectively blanking and unblanking each of said voltage controlled oscillators.

Claim 6

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said selective controlling means includes: means for generating a plurality of address signals for selectively addressing the storage locations of said frequency control words in said storing means.

Claim 7

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said selective controlling means includes: means for generating a plurality of load enable signals for selectively latching said received frequency control words into the inputs of said digital to analog converters.

Claim 8

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said selective controlling means include: means for sequencing the generation of said switching signals, said address signals, and said load enable signals to blank each of said frequency generator combinations, transfer frequency control words between said storing means and said digital to analog converters, and unblank each of said frequency generator combinations.

Claim 9

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said switching means include: a plurality of bistables each associated with one of the blanking switches of a voltage controlled oscillator, said bistable generating a blanking signal when in one state and an unblanking signal when in the other.

Claim 10

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said switching means include: means for generating a pulse during said first period to place the bistable in said blanking state; and means for generating a pulse during said second period to place the bistable in the unblanked state.

Claim 11

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency, and means for selectively outputting said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence; a plurality of jamming frequency generators comprising a plurality of digital to analog converters, each having a latched input, for receiving said predetermined sequence of frequency control words and for outputting analog voltage levels representative of said predetermined sequence, and a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators, each having a switched output, for receiving said analog voltage levels and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; means for selectively controlling each frequency generator by blanking the voltage controlled oscillator while changing the frequency control word in said digital to analog converter input latch, unblanking the oscillator after a settling time, and dwelling on the generated frequency for a predetermined period of time, said selective controlling means including means for generating a plurality of switching signals for selectively blanking and unblanking each of said voltage controlled oscillators, means for generating a plurality of address signals for selectively addressing the storage locations of said frequency control words in said storing means, means for generating a plurality of load enable signals for selectively latching said received frequency control words into the inputs of said digital to analog converters, means for sequencing the generation of said switching signals, said address signals, and said load enable signals to blank each of said frequency generator combinations, transfer frequency control words between said storing means and said digital to analog converters, and unblank each of said frequency generator combinations, said means for sequencing further including means for dwelling for a predetermined time duration after completion of said sequence and then restarting the sequence; and means for combining said jamming signals with said broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 12

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency, and means for selectively outputting said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence; a plurality of jamming frequency generators comprising a plurality of digital to analog converters, each having a latched input, for receiving said predetermined sequence of frequency control words and for outputting analog voltage levels representative of said predetermined sequence, and a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators, each having a switched output, for receiving said analog voltage levels and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; means for selectively controlling each frequency generator by blanking the voltage controlled oscillator while changing the frequency control word in said digital to analog converter input latch, unblanking the oscillator after a settling time, and dwelling on the generated frequency for a predetermined period of time, said selective controlling means including means for generating a plurality of switching signals for selectively blanking and unblanking each of said voltage controlled oscillators, means for generating a plurality of address signals for selectively addressing the storage locations of said frequency control words in said storing means, means for generating a plurality of load enable signals for selectively latching said received frequency control words into the inputs of said digital to analog converters, means for sequencing the generation of said switching signals, said address signals, and said load enable signals to blank each of said frequency generator combinations, transfer frequency control words between said storing means and said digital to analog converters, and unblank each of said frequency generator combinations, said means for sequencing further including means for dwelling for a predetermined time duration after completion of said sequence and then restarting the sequence; and means for combining said jamming signals with said broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 13

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for sequencing include: counter means for counting in a predetermined sequence, wherein each count is used as a sequence state.

Claim 14

An interdiction method for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of frequency control words representative of particular frequencies into memory locations of a random access memory; generating a plurality of jamming signals with frequencies based upon frequency control words which are stored in memory locations of input latches for inputting the words to associated digital to analog converters; transferring said frequency control words stored in said memory locations of the random access memory to said memory locations of the input latches in a sequence to change the frequencies generated; and combining said jamming signals with the broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 15

An interdiction method for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said method comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of frequency control words representative of particular frequencies into memory locations of a random access memory; generating a plurality of jamming signals with frequencies based upon frequency control words which are stored in memory locations of input latches for inputting the words to associated digital to analog converters; transferring said frequency control words stored in said memory locations of the random access memory to said memory locations of the input latches in a sequence to change the frequencies generated; and combining said jamming signals with the broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 16

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, the interdiction apparatus located off premises from a subscriber location and receiving the broadband CATV signal from a headend over a distribution network, said apparatus comprising: common circuitry including means for compensating and for distributing the broadband CATV signal to one or more subscriber modules, and control processor means for communicating with the headend over the distribution network and adapted to receive addressable instructions and data; said one or more subscriber modules including master processor means for communicating with said control processor means and adapted to receive instructions and data from said control processor means; means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency; a plurality of jamming frequency generators for receiving said frequency control words and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said frequency control words; jamming processor means for controlling said storing means to selectively output said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence and for controlling said jamming frequency generators to transfer said frequency control words from said storing means to latch input means for inputting the frequency control words to associate digital to analog conversion means and to generate the plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; and means for combining said jamming frequencies with the broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 17

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, the interdiction apparatus located off premises from a subscriber location and receiving the broadband CATV signal from a headend over a distribution network, said apparatus comprising: common circuitry including means for compensating and for distributing the broadband CATV signal to one or more subscriber modules, and control processor means for communicating with the headend over the distribution network and adapted to receive addressable instructions and data; said one or more subscriber modules including master processor means for communicating with said control processor means and adapted to receive instructions and data from said control processor means; means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency; a plurality of jamming frequency generators for receiving said frequency control words and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said frequency control words; jamming processor means for controlling said storing means to selectively output said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence and for controlling said jamming frequency generators to transfer said frequency control words from said storing means to latch input means for inputting the frequency control words to associate digital to analog conversion means and to generate the plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; and means for combining said jamming frequencies with the broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 18

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency, and means for selectively outputting said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence; a plurality of jamming frequency generators comprising a plurality of digital to analog converters, each having a latched input, for receiving said predetermined sequence of frequency control words and for outputting analog voltage levels representative of said predetermined sequence, and a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators, each having a switched output, for receiving said analog voltage levels and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; means for selectively controlling each frequency generator by blanking the voltage controlled oscillator while changing the frequency control word in said digital to analog converter input latch, unblanking the oscillator after a settling time, and dwelling on the generated frequency for a predetermined period of time, said controlling means including means for generating a plurality of switching signals for selectively blanking and unblanking each of said voltage controlled oscillators, means for generating a plurality of address signals for selectively addressing the storage locations of said frequency control words in said storing means, means for generating a plurality of load enable signals for selectively latching said received frequency control words into the inputs of said digital to analog converters, means for sequencing the generation of said switching signals, said address signals, and said load enable signals to blank each of said frequency generator combinations, transfer frequency control words between said storing means and said digital to analog converters, and unblank each of said frequency generator combinations; said means for sequencing including counter means for counting in a predetermined sequence, wherein each count is used as a sequence state; said means for generating switching signals includes means for decoding a first successive sequence of states of said counter and means for blanking one of said plurality of voltage controlled oscillators during each successive state; and means for combining said jamming signals with said broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 19

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: means for storing frequency control words, each of said frequency control words representing a particular jamming frequency, and means for selectively outputting said stored frequency control words in a predetermined sequence; a plurality of jamming frequency generators comprising a plurality of digital to analog converters, each having a latched input, for receiving said predetermined sequence of frequency control words and for outputting analog voltage levels representative of said predetermined sequence, and a plurality of voltage controlled oscillators, each having a switched output, for receiving said analog voltage levels and for generating a plurality of jamming frequencies representative of said predetermined sequence; means for selectively controlling each frequency generator by blanking the voltage controlled oscillator while changing the frequency control word in said digital to analog converter input latch, unblanking the oscillator after a settling time, and dwelling on the generated frequency for a predetermined period of time, said controlling means including means for generating a plurality of switching signals for selectively blanking and unblanking each of said voltage controlled oscillators, means for generating a plurality of address signals for selectively addressing the storage locations of said frequency control words in said storing means, means for generating a plurality of load enable signals for selectively latching said received frequency control words into the inputs of said digital to analog converters, means for sequencing the generation of said switching signals, said address signals, and said load enable signals to blank each of said frequency generator combinations, transfer frequency control words between said storing means and said digital to analog converters, and unblank each of said frequency generator combinations; said means for sequencing including counter means for counting in a predetermined sequence, wherein each count is used as a sequence state; said means for generating switching signals includes means for decoding a first successive sequence of states of said counter and means for blanking one of said plurality of voltage controlled oscillators during each successive state; and means for combining said jamming signals with said broadband CATV signal to interdict the unauthorized channels.

Claim 20

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said means for generating said address signals and said means for loading include: means for decoding a second successive sequence of state of said counter which is shifted one count from said first successive sequence; and means for transferring a frequency control word to one of said plurality of digital to analog converters during each of said second successive sequence.

Claim 21

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for generating a plurality of switching signals include: means for decoding a third successive sequence of states of said counter which is shifted one count from said second successive sequence; and means for unblanking one of said voltage controlled oscillators during each successive state.

Claim 22

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for sequencing further includes: means for decoding a reset state of said counter after said third successive sequence; and means for resetting said counter to an initial sequence state in response to decoding said reset state.

Claim 23

An interdiction apparatus as set forth in claim 17 which further includes: means for addressing a block of said storing means; and means for incrementing to the next address in said memory block after every sequence.

Claim 24

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: first generating means for generating frequency control data and power level control data; a plurality of frequency generators each comprising an input latch for storing said frequency control data and said power level control data and second generating means for generating a jamming signal at a jamming frequency that corresponds to said frequency control data stored in said input latch and at a power level that corresponds to said power level data stored in said input latch; and means for combining said jamming signal of each of said jamming frequency generators with a broadband CATV system.

Claim 25

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: first generating means for generating frequency control data and power level control data; a plurality of frequency generators each comprising an input latch for storing said frequency control data and said power level control data and second generating means for generating a jamming signal at a jamming frequency that corresponds to said frequency control data stored in said input latch and at a power level that corresponds to said power level data stored in said input latch; and means for combining said jamming signal of each of said jamming frequency generators with a broadband CATV system.

Claim 26

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channels signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: first generating means for generating frequency control data; a plurality of frequency generators each comprising an input latch for storing said frequency control data and second generating means for generating a jamming signal at a jamming frequency that corresponds to said frequency control data stored in said input latch; and means for combining said jamming signal of each of said jamming frequency generators with a broadband CATV system.

Claim 27

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channels signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals, said apparatus comprising: first generating means for generating frequency control data; a plurality of frequency generators each comprising an input latch for storing said frequency control data and second generating means for generating a jamming signal at a jamming frequency that corresponds to said frequency control data stored in said input latch; and means for combining said jamming signal of each of said jamming frequency generators with a broadband CATV system.

Claim 28

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals as recited in claim 20 wherein said second generating means comprises a digital to analog converter and a voltage controlled oscillator.

Claim 29

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals as recited in claim 20 wherein said first generating means randomly selects said frequency control data from a plurality of stored data.

Claim 30

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals as recited in claim 20 wherein said first generating means sequentially selects said frequency control data from a plurality of stored data.

Claim 31

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals as recited in claim 20 wherein said first generating means sequentially selects said frequency control data from a plurality of stored data, dwells for a duration of time, and then repeats the sequence, and said first generating means further includes means for controlling said duration of dwell.

Claim 32

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals as recited in claim 20 wherein said first generating means is selectively enabled/disabled by authorization commands.

Claim 33

An interdiction apparatus for selectively interdicting unauthorized channel signals in a broadband CATV signal with jamming signals as recited in claim 22 wherein said second generating means comprises a digital to analog converter, a voltage controlled oscillator, power level control means for controlling the power level of an output of said voltage controlled oscillator according to said power level data stored in said input latch.