4,878,245
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`Bradley et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Oct. 31, 1989
`
`[54] CONTROL AND METERING SYSTEM FOR
`PAY TELEVISION OVER A CABLE
`NETWORK
`
`....................... 358/86
`4,598,312 7/1986 Geissler et al.
`380/20
`4,599,647 7/1986 George et al.
`
`
`..... 380/20
`4,710,956 12/1987 Rast .......... ....
`4,717,970
`1/1988 Long ..................................... 358/86
`
`gnaw g=amner—TLno3-3 1:,-Vglruncza
`A”'sm"t Ax”"’"'e' 1“ L '
`8:? I
`name-V’
`gent’ 0' m"_ arson
`ay °r
`[57]
`ABSTRACI‘
`An improved control and metering system for pay tele-
`vision distribution overacable network A control unit
`.
`1
`t d
`h
`.
`b '.b
`.
`
`cated external to the subscribers home. For the basic
`apparatus power and control signals needed to operate
`the external unit require no separate wiring as these
`3:: %*s‘:§;:::%;::°:h;h:,::’:“:::::,:,$t
`switch in the external unit activates a temperature com-
`pensated digital metering unit that displays either (or
`both) the time that the premium programming has been
`accessed or the totalized cost of the pay programming
`accessed. When implemented in high density housing
`districts common equipment is centralized and the appa-
`ratus is known as a switched star configuration. Also
`included is apparatus that permits metering to be ac-
`complished at a central location for a community. The
`apparatus allows for tiering of pay programming utiliz-
`ing different rates. The system is secure without scram-
`bling or jamming. Another version of the apparatus
`Permits Cable TV Operators to Sell common carrier
`services to independent programmers according to utili-
`zation. The apparatus also allows for interfacing the
`cable TV network with a fibre optic television distribu-
`tion network, for subscribed switching between the two
`systems and the metering of the utilization of such an
`ms Th
`t
`. t d
`th .d
`f
`fb
`"‘PP_a“‘.
`'
`° SVS; °“‘ “‘ ’° “°‘?s
`‘’ ‘ ea ." “ ‘ re
`optic video party-line to reduce implementation costs.
`
`14 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`:
`
`.
`
`32
`
`"61 “”°“‘°“ ‘i$§f°§;si£3h‘ii’v‘i'fE°
`Canada, S4T 1V9; Alton O. Stretten,
`3615 McCa1lum Avenue, Regina,
`Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S OS6;
`Job? P‘ §tr::en1’ll4 Sussces Cgescem’
`Regina’
`as
`tc ewan’
`am 3’
`-
`S4T6A2; Rex B. Wentzel, #2 Rheims
`me
`Ma
`[211 APPL N0-1 5:979
`[22] Filed:
`Jam 22’ 1987
`
`[51]
`
`1631
`
`ma
`we
`C°fltiI1l13ti°l1'i11'Pm Of 5911 N°- 323,759» 333- 29» 19352
`ab‘“‘d°“°d'
`Int. c1.4 ........................ Ho4N 7/16; H04N 7/10;
`H04H 1/00
`[52] US. Cl. .......................................... 380/10; 380/7;
`358/86; 358/349; 455/4
`[58] Field of Search ............... 380/7, 10, 20; 358/349,
`358/84, 86; 307/256, 259; 333/103, 104, 262;
`455/ 1-4
`
`.
`References cued
`U-S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,813,482 5/1974 Blonder ................................. 380/1S
`3,359,457
`1/1975 Kirk, Jr, ,.
`455/1
`3,989,887 11/1976 Murphy ..
`455/1
`4.012.583
`3/1977 Kramer
`353/84
`49253350 5/1931 B1_°“d°‘ ~-
`-------- 380/7
`4’272'79l
`6/1981 mike“ """""
`358/86
`4,367,557
`1/1983 Stern et al. ..
`........ 455/4
`4,425,579
`1/1984 Merrell .................. 358/86
`4,475,123 10/1984 Dumbauld et a1_ _
`330/13
`4,577,224 3/1986 Ost ......................
`380/2
`4,594,609 6/1986 Romao et al.
`......
`380/7
`
`
`
`[56]
`
`
`
`REJECT
`FILTER
`
`58
`
` DIGITAL
`DISPLAY
`
`'
`
`Apple Exhibit 100
`Page 0000
`
`Apple Exhibit 1008
`Page 00001
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 1989
`
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`
`4,878,245
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 1989
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`Oct. 31, 1989
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`Oct. 31, 1989
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 1989
`
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`

`
`1
`
`4,878,245
`
`CONTROL AND METERING SYSTEM FOR PAY
`TELEVISION OVER A CABLE NETWORK
`
`This application is a continuation in part of applica-
`tion Ser. No. 823,759 filed Jan. 29, 1986 now aban-
`doned.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to apparatus for use in control
`and metering of Pay-television signals over a cable
`network. Most Pay TV systems employed to date re-
`quire that the Premium signals be scrambled to prevent
`reception by unauthorized cable TV subscribers. Au-
`thorized subscribers pay for the premium programming
`on a flat fee basis. Such systems have had a difficult time
`in the marketplace because of the high cost for the
`sophisticated descrambling equipment, or the unautho-
`rized use of descrambling equipment where inexpensive
`scrambling systems are employed by the cable TV oper-
`ator, and/or, the uncertainty of the value of the pre-
`mium services to non-pay TV subscribers in view of the
`required flat rate payment commitment.
`Other Pay-for-Use proposals such a Spencer (U.S.
`Pat. No. 3,504,109), Eisele (U.S. Pat. No. 3,368,031),
`Sargent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,421) and Murphy (U.S.
`Pat. No. 3,989,887) have failed to make an impact be-
`cause of the high cost of their implementation. Spencer
`requires additional wiring be installed in each subscrib-
`er’s residence; and Sargent proposes the D.C. power for
`.system control be provided from the cable operators
`studio, most existing cable systems do not allow D.C.
`.(or utility frequency A.C.) power to pass unhindered
`from the operator’s studio into the subscriber’s home. In
`addition both Sargent and Eisele do not allow for both
`premium pay services and normal cable TV services
`being distributed on the same coaxial distribution sys-
`tem.
`
`Murphy does allow for such an arrangement but
`specifies the use of JAMMING circuitry that generates
`undesirable radio frequency energy. Also because of the
`jamming method employed Murphy’s system is cum-
`bersome to implement as it requires the use of one filter
`for each channel to be jammed. The use of low-cost
`commonly available broadband multichannel band
`blocking filters is precluded. Murphy had not foreseen
`the need to custom tailor each subscribers filtering ar-
`rangement, or the need to switch 6 to 15 channels simul-
`taneously. Why Murphy chose to employ jamming
`circuitry is uncertain, but from the circuitry shown in
`his patent it appears that he could not obtain adequate
`filtered channel insertion loss and thus was forced to
`jam the channel as well as filter it. His patent fails to
`instruct any method of keeping the level of a filtered
`channel 50 dB below that of the unfiltered channel as
`his system does not require such. In addition to exten-
`sive trap filter circuitry and jamming circuits, Murphy
`also requires simultaneously positive and negative
`power to operate his apparatus making it expensive for
`a one unit per home installation. None of these systems
`make allowance for parental control requirements, si-
`multaneous viewing of 2 or more premium services,
`multiple-point operation, and control by external appa-
`ratus such as video recorders and simple timers. Mur-
`phy and the others have also not foreseen the need to
`employ sampling or preview circuitry to stimulate im-
`pulse buying.
`
`5
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55'
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`DiLorenzo (U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,213) teaches how
`Parental Lockout may be accomplished through the
`generation and transmission of interfering radio fre-
`quencies, he does not instruct how it could be accom-
`plished to the satisfaction of radio spectrum regulatory
`agency requirements. Rifken (U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,791)
`illustrates a scheme to permit the simultaneous record-
`ing of a Premium TV channel and viewing of a non-
`scrambled channel, or vice-versa. Rifl<en’s solution
`solves a problem that subscribers with VCRs have if
`their premium programming is scrambled but is not
`applicable to the apparatus embodied in this invention
`as no scrambling is required. Ritken foresees no require-
`ment for the VCR to control any switching apparatus.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is one object of the invention there to provide an
`improved cable transmission system.
`According to a first aspect of the invention there is
`provided a secure pay-for-use television distribution
`system comprising a cable distribution network ar-
`ranged to distribute Subscription television and PFU
`television signals from a central cable station to a plural-
`ity of subscriber premises, a plurality of filter units each
`mounted between the cable network and a subscriber
`premises to control the transmission of said television
`signals to the subscriber premises, a plurality of sub-
`scriber actuable control units each for mounting in a
`respective subscriber premises and connectable to the
`respective filter unit by a line for supplying control
`signals to the unit and for receiving therefrom said
`television signals, said filter unit comprising inlet termi- A
`nal means for connection to the cable network, outlet
`terminal means for connection to said line, means defm-
`ing a first and a second circuit path between said inlet
`terminal means and said outlet terminal means, filter
`means in at least said first circuit path arranged to pro-
`vide sufficient rejection loss to said PFU television
`signals so that the PFU signals emitted from the first
`circuit path cannot generate a TV picture and arrange
`to provide a sufficiently low insertion loss to the Sub-
`scription television signals so as not to interfere with the
`generation of a TV picture therefrom, said second cir-
`cuit path being arranged to transmit at least said PFU
`television signals, and switching circuit means in said
`first and second circuit paths responsive to said control
`signals from said control unit to open and close alternate
`ones of said first and second circuit paths, said switch-
`ing circuit means being arranged to open and close said
`first circuit path upstream and downstream of said filter
`means.
`
`According to a second aspect of the invention there is
`provided a secure pay-for—use television distribution
`system comprising of cable, distribution network, distri-
`bution of signals from a central cable station to a plural-
`ity of subscriber premises, a plurality of filter units each
`mounted between the cable network and a subscriber
`premises to control the transmission of signals to the
`subscriber premises, a plurality of subscriber actuable
`control units each for mounting in a respective sub-
`scriber premises and connectable to the respective filter
`unit by a line for supplying control signals to the unit
`and for receiving therefrom the transmitted signals, said
`filter unit comprising inlet terminal means for connec-
`tion to the cable network, outlet terminal means for
`connection to said line, means defining a first and a
`second circuit path between said inlet terminal means
`and said outlet terminal means, filter means in at least
`
`Page 00016
`
`Page 00016
`
`

`
`4,878,245
`
`3
`said first circuit path arrange to provide sufficient rejec-
`tion loss to a TV channel signal so that the TV channel
`signal emitted from the first circuit path cannot gener-
`ate a TV picture and arrange to provide a sufficiently
`low insertion loss to the TV channel signals so as not to
`interfere with the generation of a TV picture therefrom,
`and switching circuit means in said first and second
`circuit paths responsive to said control signals from said
`control unit to open and close alternate ones of said first
`and second circuit paths, said switching circuit means
`being arranged to open and close said first circuit path
`upstream and downstream of said filter means including
`metering means for providing a record of time of use of
`at least one of said first and second circuit paths, micro-
`processor means responsive to said control signals for
`actuating said switching means and said metering means
`and a single telephone pair connected to a plurality of
`said filter units and to a central telephone station, said
`microprocessor of each of said plurality of filter units
`being arranged to directly modulate on said telephone
`pair information from said metering means.
`According to a third aspect of the invention there is
`provided a secure pay-for-use television distribution
`system comprising of cable, distribution network, distri-
`bution of signals from a central cable station to a plural-
`ity of subscriber premises, a plurality of filter units each
`mounted between the cable network and a subscriber
`premises to control the transmission of signals to the
`subscriber premises, a plurality of subscriber actuable
`control units each for mounting in a respective sub-
`scriber premises and connectable to the respective filter
`unit by a line for supplying control signals to the unit
`and for receiving therefrom the transmitted signals, said
`filter unit comprising inlet terminal means for connec-
`tion to the cable network, outlet terminal means for
`connection to said line, means defining a first and a
`second circuit path between said inlet terminal means
`and said outlet terminal means, filter means in at least
`said first circuit path arrange to provide sufficient rejec-
`tion loss to a TV channel signal so that the TV channel
`signal emitted from the first circuit path cannot gener-
`ate a TV picture and arrange to provide a sufficiently
`low insertion loss to the TV channel signal so as not to
`interfere with the generation of a TV picture therefrom,
`and switching circuit means in said first and second
`circuit paths responsive to said control signals from said
`control unit to open and close alternate ones of said first
`and second circuit paths, said switching circuit means
`being arranged to open and close said first circuit path
`upstream and downstream of said filter means including
`a plurality of separate fibre-optic transmission systems
`each communicating from a central fibre-optic station
`to a respective one of a plurality of separate groups of
`said plurality of subscriber premises, means for trans-
`mitting to each of said groups a control channel provid-
`ing a schedule of programs to be transmitted on the
`respective one of said fibre-optic transmission systems
`to the respective group, each of said filter units includ-
`ing means for decoding and transmitting to the sub-
`scriber premises signals on said fibre-optic transmission
`system and means for metering a time of use of said
`decoding means.
`According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is
`provided a secure pay-for-use television distribution
`system comprising a cable distribution network ar-
`ranged to distribute Subscription television and PFU
`television signals from a central cable station to a plural-
`ity of subscriber premises, a plurality of filter units each
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`mounted between the cable network and a plurality of
`subscriber premises to control the transmission of said
`television signals to the subscriber premises, a plurality
`of subscriber actuable control units each for mounting
`in a respective subscriber premises and connectable to
`the respective filter unit by a line for supplying control
`signals to the unit and for receiving therefrom said
`television signals, said filter unit comprising inlet termi-
`nal means for connection to the cable network, means
`defining a first and a second circuit path from said inlet
`terminal means, filter means in at least said first circuit
`path arrange to provide sufficient rejection loss to said
`PFU television signals so that the PFU signals emitted
`from the first circuit path cannot generate a TV picture
`and arrange to provide a sufficiently low insertion loss
`to the Subscription television signals so as not to inter-
`fere with the generation of a TV picture therefrom, said
`second circuit path being arranged to transmit at least
`said PFU television signals, and said filter unit including
`for each subscriber line a first and a second amplifier
`each connected to a respective one of said first and
`second circuit paths and switching circuit means associ-
`ated with said first and second circuit amplifiers respon-
`sive to said control signals from said control unit to
`open and close alternate ones of said first and second
`circuit paths.
`This apparatus can permit programming to be sold to
`the subscriber by the month, by the program, and by the
`hour of any portion thereof Payment by the month is
`known as Subscription Television. Payment by the pro-
`gram is known as Pay-per-View. Payment by viewing
`time is known as Pay-for-Use (PFU) television. It also
`permits the Cable Operator to share revenues with inde-
`pendent programming suppliers sharing some portion of
`the cable TV distribution system.
`This apparatus also can allow subscribers to sample
`premium programming being delivered prior to engage-
`ment of the metering process in order to encourage
`viewing of premium services. Unlike preview systems
`employed in many hotel Pay-per-View apparatus this
`preview feature is cheat-proof as it uses a capacitive
`charge memory to foil attempts to reset the timer that
`limits the duration of the preview sample permitted. It
`also incorporates fault detection circuitry to simplify
`troubleshooting and protect the power supply from
`over-load.
`
`The specific apparatus described hereinafter was
`designed according to the following design objectives:
`1. Maximize pay TV revenues
`maximize penetration
`little or no payment of non use -incorporate cheat-
`proof preview capabilities
`2. Minimum cost for equipment, simplest installation.
`reuse existing subscriber’s coaxial cable for signalling,
`power, and control purposes.
`minimum amount of circuitry for the basic configura-
`tion.
`
`simple installations should be able to be completed in
`l0 minutes.
`
`compatible with existing cable TV distribution facili-
`ties (minimum insertion loss, minimum generation
`of RFI and intermodulation distortion products).
`capacity to carry both the Premium TV Pay Services
`and the normal Cable TV Subscription Services on
`the existing cable distribution system be reliable
`and capable of withstanding short circuits on the
`interconnecting coaxial cable for long periods of
`time.
`
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`4,878,245
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`5
`detect and signal an indication of a fault to the sub-
`scriber or installer.
`exterior equipment capable of surviving severe envi-
`ronmental conditions.
`basic apparatus must not require expensive pole in-
`stallation.
`
`3. Multiple Location Control to allow subscribers to
`access and monitor the system for any room in their
`home where there is a TV set using existing cabling.
`4. Incorporation of a lockout control feature to prevent
`access to Premium Pay Programming by unautho-
`rized individuals, such as children.
`5. Permit tiering of different levels of Premium TV
`services at varying rates of cost.
`6. Use field changeable filters to permit individual cus-
`tom tiering of each subscribers Subscription and PFU
`channels.
`'
`7. Ability to allow Premium Programming to be turned
`ON and OFF by external apparatus such as timers
`and video recorders.
`8. Integrate a Cable television broadcast system with a
`non-broadcast or limited broadcast, view on demand
`television delivery system. Provide apparatus that
`will allow the view on demand system to be con-
`structed at the minimum per subscriber cost and per-
`mit sharing of revenues.
`9. Provide the Cable Operator with the option of read-
`ing the meters remotely from a central location using
`as much existing facilities and equipment as possible
`in order to keep the cost at a
`10. Provide Pay—per-View capabilities as an option.
`The apparatus according to another specific embodi-
`ment can provide for the simultaneous multiple random
`access of any programming stored in a library of video
`programs. Such an invention together with develop-
`ment of extremely high capacity fibre optic transmission
`facilities allows for the development of video distribu-
`tion libraries which can be accessed privately, or semi
`privately, by a subscriber whose residence is connected
`to the system. Subscribers will request a library pro-
`gram using the telephone system, the library operator
`will directly invoice the subscriber accordingly. The
`subscriber could have access to one or more such librar-
`ies. The apparatus for the reception of the signals at the
`subscribers premises is required to integrate with the
`existing cable television broadcast distribution facility.
`The apparatus embodied here is designed to meet the
`expected requirements. As the licensed cable operator
`may not have any interest in the demand programming
`library or the fibre-optic distribution system, yet be
`directly involved where the two systems interface, a
`need for revenue sharing is anticipated. An apparatus
`for the metering of the use of the video library system is
`provided for that purpose. The embodied apparatus is
`designed to economically meet these requirements.
`With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as
`will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which
`this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the
`invention is herein described by reference to the accom-
`panying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes
`a description of the best mode known to the applicant
`and of the preferred typical embodiment of the princi-
`ple of the present invention, in which:
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an overall illustration of the implementation
`of the pay-for-use broadcast television aspects of this
`invention.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`FIG. 2 shows the simplest configuration for the set-
`top control unit.
`FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but utilizes both positive
`and negative D.C. signals. This unit is ideal for control
`of the semiconductor switching system.
`FIG. 4 is a semiconductor switching system set-top
`control unit that is ideal for multi-point control. This
`unit allows for complete ON/OFF control from any
`location. With this unit a subscriber can turn the pre-
`mium programming off from any location regardless of
`where the programming was previously turned on
`from.
`
`FIG. 5 shows the simplest implementation of the
`external unit using electro-mechanical switching.
`FIG. 6 shows the simplest implementation of the
`external unit using semiconductor switching.
`FIG. 6A is similar to FIG. 6 but illustrates how fla-
`trate Subscription Services can be tiered, how PFU
`services can be tiered and incorporation of optional
`remote meter reading capabilities.
`FIG. 7 shows a fault detection circuitry for use in the
`device of FIG. 6.
`
`FIG. 8 shows a low cost cheat-proof preview circuit
`for use in the device of FIG. 6.
`FIG. 9 shows a multi-tier apartment block system,
`complete with optional paired-cable interface for re-
`mote meter reading.
`FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the implementation of a
`multitier premium TV pay-for-use system with FIG.
`10:: showing a set-top internal control unit and FIG. 11
`one method of configuring a multi-tier switching net-
`work.
`
`FIG. 12 illustrates a central metering system.
`FIG. 13 illustrates the interfacing of the broadcast
`cable TV system in accordance with the principles of
`this invention and a demand programming fibreoptic
`distribution system.
`FIG. 14 illustrates apparatus for economically inte-
`grating demand programming technology with existing
`coaxial cable television distribution apparatus. The sys-
`tem is very economical as it utilizes a kind of Video
`Party-Line.
`In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
`corresponding parts in the different figures.
`DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an overview
`of the general principles of this invention. The cable
`company broadcasts in unscrambled form television
`signals via a coaxial cable distribution system 10. These
`signals enter a secure external switching and control
`unit 11 where the Pay-per-Use signals are blocked when
`all set top units 12, 13 are switched off. Should that be
`the case only the Subscription Services are passed on to
`the subscriber’s television receivers for viewing. Unit 12
`cooperates with a TV 14 and unit 13 with a TV 15. A
`third TV is indicated at 16.
`
`Should a subscriber using one of the Set-top Control
`Units 12, 13, which may include an associated timing
`apparatus 17 such as a video recorder shown connected
`to Television Receiver set 15, turn ON a D.C. current
`which flows to the external switching apparatus via the
`same coaxial cable that carries the television signals into
`the residence, that current will activate both the switch-
`ing apparatus and the metering unit within the control
`unit 11.
`
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`7
`When activated the switching apparatus routes the
`Pay-for-Use programming signals around a filter that
`previously blocked the Pay-for-Use programming and
`thus such signals are passed on for viewing via the same
`coaxial cable that is carrying the low voltage D.C.
`power to the external unit.
`If the external Switching/Metering Unit 11 does not
`incorporate a preview feature described in detail herein-
`after the DC. power will simultaneously turn on the
`metering system. The metering system being calibrated
`to record either the time that the PFU signals are ac-
`cessed or the charges to be billed for the time that the
`PFU programming is accessed. The metering system,
`which does not require D.C. power for meter reading,
`is a digital system using temperature stabilized circuitry.
`The metering system can be calibrated to register hours,
`fractions of hours, or minutes of useage.
`When the set-up control unit is turned on, status dis-
`play fights on all set-top units light to indicate that the
`pay-‘for-use premium television system is active.
`Should the subscriber not wish to have a set top con-
`trol unit installed near each television receiver a D.C.
`blocking device 19, which are commercially available,
`may be installed to protect sensitive equipment. TV
`Receiver 16 is so connected Such a receiver is still
`capable of receiving the PFU programming, however,
`the PFU programming must be turned on at a location
`where there is a set-top control unit.
`A fibre optic line for supplying demand-TV system is
`indicated at 20 and a tap boxes on the line 22.
`With reference now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a
`television set-top control unit 12, 13 in accordance with
`the basic principles of this invention. D.C. power is
`supplied from a source separate from the unit and con-
`nected at jack 26. Should an ON Switch 24 be activated
`and a Parental Lock Switch 25 also be ON, D.C. cur-
`rent will flow through a normally closed Jack 27, and
`through the Radio Frequency Blocking circuit 28 to the
`External Switching and Control Unit 11 via the shown
`coaxial cable 18. This same D.C. source will also light
`an Activity Monitor 29 on the Set-Top Control Unit via
`a diode 30.
`
`Note that should the auxiliary timing contacts 31 on
`the Video Cassette Recorder 17 be utilized, ON timing
`can be automatically controlled. So far no VCR manu-
`facturer has forseen a need for timing contacts to con-
`trol external apparatus.
`FIG. 3 shows a very similar circuit for a Set-Top
`Control Unit 13. However, this Unit employs a modi-
`fied ON switch 24A. which is arranged as shown to
`supply a negative voltage to the coaxial cable when the
`Unit is turned OFF. This negative voltage can be used
`to improve the transmission performance of semicon-
`ductor switching circuits used in the External Switch-
`ing and Metering Unit 11, or as a method of requesting
`a higher tier level of PFU programming. One example
`of a unit 11 is shown in FIG. 6 and uses the negative
`polarity to forward bias diodes 32 and 33 which
`switches in a Band Reject Filter 34 and to reverse bias
`diodes 35 and 36 to switch out a filter bypass circuit 37.
`In FIG. 13 the negative polarity is used to switch in a
`second level of Pay-for-Use tier of premium program-
`ming, while switching off the first tier of premium Pay-
`for-Use Programming.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement of set-
`top unit 13B incorporating a unique combination of a
`bridge circuit and a bistable multivibrator circuit This
`circuit allows the subscriber to use any Set-top Unit to
`
`4,878,245
`
`turn off the premium tier of programming regardless of
`which control unit was used to turn on the program-
`ming. This circuit is a condition following, reversing
`power supply circuit. For example, should a subscriber
`have two television receivers and one of these Set-top
`Units with each and should both be in the OFF condi-
`tion, that is each is supplying a negative D.C. voltage to
`the centre conductor of the coaxial cable 18 (which is
`connected to the External Switching and Control Unit
`via a D.C. passing splitter), then in both units transistors
`38 and 39 will be switched on and 40 and 41 will be
`switched off. Thus the negative side of the power sup-
`ply will be connected to the centre conductor of the
`coax via transistor 39 and the positive side of the power
`supply to the outer conductor of the coax, or ground,
`via transistor 38. Should the subscriber have the keyed
`switch 25 of one unit closed, and momentarily close the
`switch 24 of the same set-top unit then the steering
`circuit will enable the closing of ON Momentary
`Contacts 42 which in turn will pull the collector of
`transistor 41 to the negative side of the Power Supply.
`The voltage across transistor 41 drop, and the base
`current to transistor 39 is reduced, the voltage across
`transistor 39 will rise as it begins to shut off, and the
`base current to transistor 41 will rise thus reinforcing
`the drop in the collector voltage of transistor 41. The
`circuit goes regenerative. Similarly the base current to
`transistor 40 will increase and the base current to tran-
`sistor 38 will decrease. Transistors 40 and 41 switch
`ON, transistors 38 and 39 switch OFF. The centre con-
`ductor of this Unit is now connected to the positive side
`of the power supply and the outer conductor is now
`connected to the negative side. This switching of polar-
`ity will simultaneously influence any other Set-top Con-
`trol Units connected in the subscribers home. The more
`positive voltage on transistor 39 will tend to turn ON
`transistor 41 and turn OFF transistor 38 as transistor 4;
`turns ON its collector voltage drops thus reducing the
`base current to transistor 39 which begins to turn OFF,
`similarly the base current to transistor 40 increases thus
`turning it on. To turn OFF the system switch 24 need
`only be momentarily closed, the steering circuit now
`enables the closing of the OFF contacts 43 and a similar
`pull down/push up action will occur forcing all units
`connected OFF.
`
`The On and O