Channel assignment for CATV system
US4527194A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 27, 1983 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/162
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A CATV channel assignment system and method for arranging CATV channels in a tiered fashion facilitates selective viewer access to predetermined groups of CATV channels. A "logical" channel number is generated upon channel selection and is provided to a microcomputer which, in turn, generates a corresponding lock-up PROM address. The logical channel number is converted by means of the thus generated address to a "physical" channel number in the PROM. The physical channel number represents a standard CATV channel and is provided to the microcomputer for synthesizing the correct tuning frequency via a phase lock loop and conventional tuning circuitry. For a two cable system automatic cable switching is provided to permit channels on either cable to be included within the same group of selected channels. The present invention facilitates the "tiering" of CATV channels into predetermined groups of channels, wherein each group has a viewer access authorization level associated therewith, and in which all channels in a group may be assigned logically related channel numbers, e.g., consecutively arranged channel numbers, while the corresponding standard channel numbers may be widely dispa…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.