Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing periodic subscription television services comprises a way for subscribers who cannot afford the fees for full time television services such as a regular cable television service to obtain subscription service to a plurality of allocated channels on a periodic basis. The method comprises the steps of allocating channels to a periodic service offering and storing in memory of service denial apparatus service code data which represents the allocated channels. The service denial apparatus for providing periodic service comprises a service denial device such as a switch 389 or other circuit controlled by a controller 260 of service denial apparatus for periodically closing and opening service lines to the periodic service subscriber in accordance with predetermined periodic service intervals.

Abstract: A verification method for use in a verification system comprises a verification terminal operated by a verification authority, a remote terminal remote from the verification terminal, and a communication link coupling the verification terminal to the remote terminal. The method includes the steps of generating a document data file from an identity document provided at the remote terminal, and then transmitting the document data file from the remote terminal to the verification terminal. The method further includes generating a verification data file that verifies an attribute of the document at the verification terminal. The verification data file preferably comprises a digitized signature of the verification authority operating the verification terminal. The verification data file is transmitted to the remote terminal. Finally, the document data file and the verification data file are merged to produce a verification record. The verification record may be time stamped and stored and/or printed by a printer.

Abstract: Two additional structures for addition to the Digital Video Broadcasters (DVB) Service Information (SI) for implementation of the MPEG-2 Systems Standard (ISO/IEC 13818-1 are provided: the Logical Channel Table (LCT) and the Composite Channel Table (CCT). The LCT provides the mapping between a Logical Channel Number (LCN) representing a service and the transport stream/program number on which the service can be found. LCT entries may designate either simple conventional channels or Composite Channels. The LCT contains a Composite Channel Indicator (CCI), which when set to `1`, indicates that the selected channel is a composite channel. In this case, the LCT entry gives the home channel of the Composite Channel, which provides the CCT to the decoder so that the tuner can be retuned to the actual program designated in the CCT for current viewing. Each entry in the CCT associates a Composite Channel Number (CCN) with a LCN and represents the "present" definition for the composite channel.

Abstract: A synchronous detector has first and second mixer circuits and a voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controlled oscillator provides a local oscillator signal directly to the second mixer circuit and indirectly to the first mixer circuit through a phase transformer. The output of the first and second mixer circuits are combined in combiner circuitry to produce a jitter cancelled output signal. The jitter cancelled output signal is filtered in a loop filter and applied to the voltage controlled oscillator to control the frequency and phase of the local oscillator signal. The combiner circuitry includes a summer and a jitter cancellation filter. The jitter cancellation filter is preferably a high pass filter matched to spectrum of the signal detected. The output of the first mixer circuit is passed through the high pass filter into one input of the summer while the output of the second mixer circuit is passed to the second input of the summer. The output of the summer is passed to the loop filter.

Abstract: A broadband communications system for coupling telephony or other digital networks to a CATV network. The system transmits a multiplex of telephony signals in the forward band of the CATV network. Each forward channel is QPR modulated on a carrier and contains multiple subscriber telephony signals. The forward telephony channels are demodulated and demultiplexed by a plurality of subscriber terminals into the individual telephony signals directed to an addressed subscriber. Audio and control signals returning from the subscriber are digitized into standard telephony signals and QPSK modulated on a carrier onto the reverse band of the CATV network. The multiplicity of reverse band telephony channels are demodulated and multiplexed into a standard telephony signal which is directly interfaced to the telephony network.

Abstract: A synchronous detector has first and second mixer circuits and a voltage controlled oscillator. The voltage controlled oscillator provides a local oscillator signal directly to the second mixer circuit and indirectly to the first mixer circuit through a phase transformer. The output of the first and second mixer circuits are combined in combiner circuitry to produce a jitter cancelled output signal. The jitter cancelled output signal is filtered in a loop filter and applied to the voltage controlled oscillator to control the frequency and phase of the local oscillator signal. The combiner circuitry includes a summer and a jitter cancellation filter. The jitter cancellation filter is preferably a high pass filter matched to spectrum of the signal detected. The output of the first mixer circuit is passed through the high pass filter into one input of the summer while the output of the second mixer circuit is passed to the second input of the summer. The output of the summer is passed to the loop filter.

Abstract: An antenna tracking controller for generating signals used to position an antenna for tracking a moving signal source includes a first Kalman filter for estimating parameters of a first model of the motion of the moving signal source a second Kalman filter for estimating parameters of a second model of the motion of the moving signal source. The second Kalman filter uses the parameters estimated by the first Kalman filter as initial values. A model quality charge/discharge is also provided to monitor the status of the data base.

Abstract: A subscription television system is provided that transmits a plurality of television signals to a plurality of subscribers. The television signals include pay-per-view programs (purchased by feature) or near-video-on-demand programs (purchased for a period of time for unlimited viewing) that are provided only to subscribers that purchase the programs. Data representing an electronic programming guide is also transmitted. The electronic programming guide can be displayed by a subscriber terminal at the subscriber's location. The electronic programming guide is a grid listing television programs by date, time and channel. A subscriber can select programs for watching or recording from the electronic program guide. Moreover, the subscriber can purchase pay-per-view or near-video-on-demand programs from the electronic programming guide.

Abstract: A multiplex frame format for transmitting digital data in a data transmission system comprises a PACKETS portion comprising a highly error-protected region and a region having only Reed Solomon encoding as an error protection measure, the PACKETS portion including low speed data. The frame format also comprises portions for transmitting medium (AUDIO) and high speed (VIDEO) data streams following the PACKETS portion. Prior to transmission, the composed frame comprising the PACKETS, AUDIO and VIDEO portions is interleaved and the BLOCK SYNC and FRAME SYNC are added. A multiplex structure control packet word of the PACKETS portion immediately follows FRAME SYNC. Thus, the FRAME SYNC word defines where interleaving begins. A demultiplexer in concert with a microcontroller of a decoder decodes the multiplex structure control word and related PACKETS and outputs digital data streams to related output peripheral processors.

Abstract: A broadband communications system for coupling telephony or other digital networks to a CATV network. The system transmits a multiplex of telephony signals in the forward band of the CATV network. The forward telephony channels are demodulated and demultiplexed by a plurality of subscriber terminals into the individual telephony signals directed to an addressed subscriber. Signals returning from subscribers are digitized into standard telephony signals onto the reverse band of the CATV network, and demodulated and multiplexed into a standard telephony signal that is interfaced to the telephony network. A multiplicity of subscribers are initially assigned to a selected reverse band channel. If more than one subscriber contends for use of the reverse channel by transmitting in the channel, signals from the contending subscribers interfere and prevent any subscriber's identity from being decoded and acknowledged. The contending subscribers wait for a random wait time and re-attempt to transmit.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing multimedia signals to a subscriber from a headend unit. The multimedia signals are transmitted on a network media as a composite RF and AC signal. A passive unit is upgraded by with a circuit having connectors that separates the AC from the RF signal. The signals are split in the upgraded passive unit. The AC signal is fed to a power distribution unit which generates an AC output signal that is surge protected, RF filtered and current limited. The RF signal and AC output signal are separately fed to a customer interface unit where the RF signal is decoded and transmitted to a subscriber. By providing a passive unit where the AC and RF signal are separated in the same unit, the system can be upgraded with a power distribution unit when AC signals are required to supply power to subscriber equipment.

Abstract: A display system for the on screen display of information for a subscriber terminal of a subscription television system includes a display processor which can display information in the form of a display screen stored in a display memory. The display processor can be preprogrammed by the control processor with a plurality of display attributes including different symbol sets, different color palettes, whether the screen is to be a text screen, graphic screen or a combination of a text and graphics system, and the size and location of each screen display on the display area. The display processor includes a digital processor and an analog processor. The digital processor controls accessing the display data from the memory and converting it into timed digital pixels. The analog processor includes a digital to analog pixel converter which produces analog pixels from the digital pixels in a timed relation to an input video signal.

Abstract: A data controller which manages the flow of text and electronic program guide (EPG) information to a cable television viewer. The data controller of the invention receives text and EPG information from one or a plurality of authorized data sources via a communications link, processes the received data in its internal database manager to perform data compression and the like, and then provides this text information to the viewer under control of the head end controller. In a preferred embodiment, the text data is formatted on a screen basis into transactions of a predetermined length and the EPG data is formatted on a program basis into transactions of the same length. The transaction are then inserted into the vertical blanking interval of a channel to which the corresponding text or electronic program data has been assigned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electrical load in an electrical load management system and monitoring the load control operations and the energy supplied to the electrical load. The apparatus includes a controller for controlling an electrical load in an electrical distribution network in response to command signals transmitted by a command center remotely located from the electrical load. A first monitor generates electrical load data in response to detecting the distribution or interruption of energy to the electrical load. Furthermore, a second monitor generates electrical load reduction data in response to detecting the control operation of the controller. The apparatus also includes a communicator means for transmitting the electrical load data and the electrical load control data to a data processing center remotely located from the electrical load.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing information, such as power consumption, to a subscriber over an electronic network in response to commands provided by the subscriber. The apparatus includes a remote unit which detects and stores the power consumption information, a subscriber device, i.e., a telephone, for generating request commands and a control device which tracks the information. The subscriber using the subscriber device, feeds the request commands via the network to the control device. The control device responds to the commands by directing the remote unit to feed its stored power consumption information onto the network to the control device. The control device then processes the information and indicates the result back to the subscriber.

Abstract: A video signal is encrypted by pseudo-random variation of portions of lines thereof to be horizontally scanned that are devoid of video information. Thus, the durations of line blanking intervals may be varied. The variation is done in accordance with an encryption keys which is employed at the receiver to decrypt the encrypted video signal.

Abstract: A headend method and apparatus for a digital transmission system is provided which includes inputs for receiving first and second program information from first and second program sources and inputs for receiving first and second control information from first and second control sources. The first and second program information is applied to a switching circuit and a switch control controls the switching circuit to output channels of program information comprising combinations of the first and second program information for output to a subscriber. Processing circuitry allows for selectively providing the first and second control information to the channels output from the switching circuit.