US6493876B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing a full service television system
Assignee: Scientific Atlanta LLC
•
Filing: 1998-02-18
•
Granted: 2002-12-10
•
Expires: 2018-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A system and method are provided for providing a full service cable television system. The cable system incorporates a digital and analog transmission architecture capable of delivering a high number of high quality television programs, advanced cable services, and online services to a subscriber's home. The cable system comprises a cable headend, at least one fiber transport, at least one distribution hub, at least one hybrid fiber coax plant, and a plurality of set-top terminals. Programs and services are transmitted to the set-top terminals in both digital and analog formats to maintain downward compatibility with existing systems. The set-top terminal incorporates a central processing unit, a unified memory architecture, a memory management unit, communications circuitry, I/O control circuitry, and audio and video output circuitry. Through these components the set-top terminal provides advanced cable services such as a comprehensive channel navigator, an interactive program guide, Impulse Pay-Per-View activation, Near-Video-On-Demand and Video-On-Demand programming, and advanced configuration controls. The set-top terminal also provides online services such as World Wide Web browsing, Internet E-Mail, and Home Shopping.
Inventors
- 👤 Darryl L. Defreese
- 👤 Timothy H. Addington
- 👤 Mike L. LaJoie
- 👤 Joseph G. Buehl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/43; H04N21/44; H04N21/4402; H04N21/47; H04N21/475; H04N21/4753; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/485; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6118; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/426; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N5/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for activating television services, said apparatus comprising: an input device for selecting a set-top terminal television channel; memory; a first table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of set-top terminal channel numbers and a plurality of first pointers, each channel number associated with a first pointer; a second table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of identifiers and a plurality of second pointers, each identifier identifying a type of television service, each identifier associated with a second pointer, and each said first pointer pointing to one of said identifiers; and a third table stored in said memory that includes at least one parameter for accessing a source of one of said television services, said parameter pointed to by one of said second pointers; and a central processing unit in communication with said input device and coupled to said memory; wherein said central processing unit displays contents of said source in response to receiving a selected television channel from said input device, said central processing unit using said first, second, and third tables to associate said selected television channel with said source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for activating television services, said apparatus comprising: an input device for selecting a set-top terminal television channel; memory; a first table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of set-top terminal channel numbers and a plurality of first pointers, each channel number associated with a first pointer; a second table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of identifiers and a plurality of second pointers, each identifier identifying a type of television service, each identifier associated with a second pointer, and each said first pointer pointing to one of said identifiers; and a third table stored in said memory that includes at least one parameter for accessing a source of one of said television services, said parameter pointed to by one of said second pointers; and a central processing unit in communication with said input device and coupled to said memory; wherein said central processing unit displays contents of said source in response to receiving a selected television channel from said input device, said central processing unit using said first, second, and third tables to associate said selected television channel with said source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit associates said selected television channel with a television service via said first and second tables.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit associates said channel numbers of said first table with said identifiers of said second table via said first pointers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said association by said central processing unit of said channel numbers and said identifiers is programmable by a viewer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said television services are provided by a cable service provider via assigned cable channels, said assigned cable channels corresponding to said identifiers, said association of channel numbers and identifiers maintained when said television services are provided via reassigned cable channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein updates corresponding to said reassigned cable channels are downloaded to said memory to maintain said association of channel numbers and identifiers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central processing unit obtains said parameter from said third table via one of said second pointers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second table further comprises descriptive information relating to at least one of said television services.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said parameter indicates multiple sources of said one television service.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said parameter indicates a time period during which said source is available.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said parameter comprises a frequency indicative of said source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a video service that provides video programming.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source is a music service that provides audio programming.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input device comprises a remote control.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input device comprises a keypad.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of activating television services, said method comprising: associating a television channel with a first pointer; mapping said television channel to a television service identifier via said first pointer; associating said identifier with a second pointer; mapping said identifier to a parameter via said second pointer; obtaining said parameter; executing software related to a television service in accordance with said parameter; and displaying contents of said television service on said television channel in response to said executing.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of activating television services, said method comprising: associating a television channel with a first pointer; mapping said television channel to a television service identifier via said first pointer; associating said identifier with a second pointer; mapping said identifier to a parameter via said second pointer; obtaining said parameter; executing software related to a television service in accordance with said parameter; and displaying contents of said television service on said television channel in response to said executing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said associating a television channel further comprises associating said television channel with a first pointer via a first table stored in a computer memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said associating said identifier further comprises associating said identifier with a second pointer located in a second table stored in said memory.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said obtaining further comprises obtaining said parameter from a third table stored in said memory.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source comprises a video-on-demand service.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source comprises a World Wide Web browsing service.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for activating television services, said apparatus comprising: a memory; a first table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of set-top terminal channel numbers and a plurality of first pointers, each channel number associated with a first pointer; a second table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of identifiers and a plurality of second pointers, each identifier identifying a type of television service, each identifier associated with a second pointer, and each said first pointer pointing to one of said identifiers; and at least one third table stored in said memory, said third table including at least one parameter for accessing at least one source of said television services, said parameter pointed to by at least one of said second pointers; wherein: said one source comprises a service selected from the group consisting of a video service, a music service, a video-on-demand service, an email service, and a World Wide Web browsing service.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for activating television services, said apparatus comprising: a memory; a first table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of set-top terminal channel numbers and a plurality of first pointers, each channel number associated with a first pointer; a second table stored in said memory that includes a plurality of identifiers and a plurality of second pointers, each identifier identifying a type of television service, each identifier associated with a second pointer, and each said first pointer pointing to one of said identifiers; and at least one third table stored in said memory, said third table including at least one parameter for accessing at least one source of said television services, said parameter pointed to by at least one of said second pointers; wherein: said one source comprises a service selected from the group consisting of a video service, a music service, a video-on-demand service, an email service, and a World Wide Web browsing service.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said memory is a portable machine-readable storage medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4203130A
Cited
US4203130B1
Cited
US4264925A
Cited
US4862268A
Cited
US4381522A
Cited
US5335277A
Cited
US4963994A
Cited
US5508815A
Cited
US4641205A
Cited
US4602279A
Cited
US4691351A
Cited
US4751578A
Cited
US4706121B1
Cited
US4706121A
Cited
US5144663A
Cited
US5596361A
Cited
US5589872A
Cited
US5550579A
Cited
US4890321A
Cited
US4807052A
Cited
US4930158A
Cited
US4896347A
Cited
US5003384A
Cited
US5371795A
Cited
US4977455A
Cited
US4977455B1
Cited
US5027400A
Cited
US5446488A
Cited
US5532732A
Cited
US4991011A
Cited
US5335079A
Cited
US5307173A
Cited
US5182640A
Cited
US5151782A
Cited
US5253066A
Cited
US5253066C1
Cited
US5047867A
Cited
US5038211A
Cited
US5532754A
Cited
US5353121A
Cited
US5151789A
Cited
US5361173A
Cited
US5479268A
Cited
US5619274A
Cited
US5479266A
Cited
US5293357A
Cited
US5412720A
Cited
US5093718A
Cited
US5220420A
Cited
US5245420A
Cited
US5172413A
Cited
US5168353A
Cited
US5200823A
Cited
US5621579A
Cited
US5581614A
Cited
US5434626A
Cited
US5410343A
Cited
US5404393A
Cited
US5416508A
Cited
US5465385A
Cited
US5247364A
Cited
US5497187A
Cited
US5301028A
Cited
US5317391A
Cited
US5477262A
Cited
US5323240A
Cited
US5469206A
Cited
US5223924A
Cited
US5483278A
Cited
US5412416A
Cited
US5400401A
Cited
US5418782A
Cited
US5359601A
Cited
US5357276A
Cited
US5592551A
Cited
US5657414A
Cited
US5543929A
Cited
US5444499A
Cited
US5493339A
Cited
US5515173A
Cited
US5579055A
Cited
US5485221A
Cited
US5579057A
Cited
US5594509A
Cited
US5583560A
Cited
US5469431A
Cited
US5440336A
Cited
US5382983A
Cited
US5585866A
Cited
US5589892A
Cited
US5410344A
Cited
US5499103A
Cited
US5640484A
Cited
US5481542A
Cited
US5425101A
Cited
US5465113A
Cited
US5459506A
Cited
US5642153A
Cited
US5515106A
Cited
US5491748A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-09 | 2006-06-10 | 2006-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-09 | 2010-06-10 | 2010-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-09 | 2014-06-10 | 2014-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |