Patent · US Expired

Method for configuring cable television converter terminal using multiple channels and arrangement therefor

US6425133B1 · kind B1 · utility

40Cited by
8References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1998
Grant dateJul 23, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/8166
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A converter terminal is configured, for example, to receive and descramble premium cable television channels or to receive data services over the cable network. The converter terminal is configured by transmitting an abbreviated set of configuration data on an out-of-band control channel. This abbreviated set of configuration information includes an instruction to tune the terminal to a higher-bandwidth in-band data channel, which is used to transmit the remainder of the configuration data. With a substantial amount of the configuration information transmitted using a faster connection, configuration can be achieved in less time. In addition, the larger bandwidth facilitates the transmission of multiple sets of configuration information corresponding to different models of cable television converter terminals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.