Cable fraud detection system and method

Claim 1

A cable fraud detection system for detecting unauthorized access to a CATV system at a site, wherein the site connects to the CATV system through a drop, wherein the CATV system supplies a plurality of content signals, and wherein the site is not authorized to access at least one content signal, the system comprising: a two-way branching means inserted into the drop with input on the CATV system side; a two-way splitter inserted into the drop between the branching means and the site, the splitter connected with input on the site side and a first splitter output connected to a first output of the branching means; a controllable switch having a pole, a first throw and a second throw, wherein the first throw is connected to a second output of the branching means and the second throw is connected to a second output of the splitter; a signal analyzer connected to the pole of the switch; a memory; and a control logic in communication with the signal analyzer, the switch, and the memory, the control logic operative to (a) periodically determine a monitored signal from the plurality of content signals, (b) set the switch so as to connect the signal analyzer to the splitter, (c) obtain a first sample of the monitored signal from the site using the signal analyzer, the first sample indicative of site access of the monitored signal, (d) store the first sample, (e) set the switch so as to connect the signal analyzer to the branching means, (f) obtain a second sample of the monitored signal from the CATV system using the signal analyzer, the second sample indicative of the level of the monitored signal in the CATV system, and (g) store the second sample.

Claim 6

A method for detecting unauthorized access to a CATV system at a site, wherein the site connects to the CATV system through a drop, wherein the CATV system supplies a plurality of content signals, and wherein the site is not authorized to access at least one content signal, the method comprising: inserting a cable fraud detection unit into the drop; periodically obtaining a first sample of a content signal from the site with the cable fraud detection unit so as to determine if the site is accessing the content signal; storing the first sample in the cable fraud detection unit; periodically obtaining a second sample of the content signal from the CATV system with the cable fraud detection unit to serve as a reference for the first sample; and storing the second sample in the cable fraud detection unit.

Claim 7

A method for detecting unauthorized access to a CATV system at a site, wherein the site connects to the CATV system through a drop, wherein the CATV system supplies a plurality of content signals, and wherein the site is not authorized to access at least one content signal, the method comprising: inserting a cable fraud detection unit into the drop; periodically obtaining a first sample of a content signal from the site with the cable fraud detection unit so as to determine if the site is accessing the content signal; storing the first sample in the cable fraud detection unit; periodically obtaining a second sample of the content signal from the CATV system with the cable fraud detection unit to serve as a reference for the first sample; and storing the second sample in the cable fraud detection unit.