Address-programmable CATV converter

Claim 2

An addressable converter comprising a first memory (48) for storing a converter identification code and a second memory (50), code receiving means (28,44) adapted to receive a coded signal containing a converter identification code and a unique logical address code assigned to that converter, and processing means (38) connected to said code receiving means (28,44) and to said first and second memories (48,50) and comprising means for operatively comparing the received identification code and the identification code stored in said first memory (48) and effective upon the detection of a predetermined relationship between the received and stored identification codes to store the received logical address code into said second memory (50).

Claim 3

The addressable converter of claim 1, in which said second memory (50) is a low-power static random-access memory, and further comprising a power source (52) connected to said second memory (50) for applying an operating voltage thereto.

Claim 4

The addressable converter of claim 1 or 2, in which said identification code is a serial number assigned to the converter during its fabrication, said first memory (48) comprising a programmable read-only memory.

Claim 5

The addressable converter of any preceding claim, in which said code receiving means (28,44) comprises an FSK receiver (28) and logic means (44) interposed between said FSK receiver (28) and said processing means (38) for converting received serial binary data to parallel binary data.

Claim 6

An addressable converter adapted to be connected to a cable, said converter comprising data-storage means (50) and processing means (28,44,38,48) for receiving a plurality of different converter address codes from the cable, said processing means (28,44,38,48) including means (38,48) for recognizing one of said address codes uniquely assigned to that converter and for storing the recognised one of said address codes into said data-storage means (50).

Claim 7

An addressable converter adapted to be connected to a cable, said converter comprising data-storage means (50) and processing means (28,44,38,48) for receiving a plurality of different converter address codes from the cable, said processing means (28,44,38,48) including means (38,48) for recognizing one of said address codes uniquely assigned to that converter and for storing the recognised one of said address codes into said data-storage means (50).

Claim 8

The converter of claim 5, wherein second data storage means (48) are comprised in said processing means (28,44,38,48) for storing a converter identification signal, said processing means (28,44,38,48) comprising means for comparing different received identification signals from the headend of the cable with the storea identification signal and for storing the assigned address code in said first mentioned data-storage means (50) when the received and the stored identification codes bear a predetermined relation to one another.

Claim 9

A two-way cable television distribution network comprising a headend, a cable, and a plurality of remote subscriber terminals connected via said cable to said headend, each of said subscriber terminals including an addressable converter which is identified by a unique identification code, the headend comprising code transmitting means (20) for transmitting along said cable coded signals including at least one of said converter identification codes and an address code uniquely assigned to that converter, the converter including a memory (50) and processing means (28,44,38,48) for receiving the transmitted code signal from said headend and for permanently storing the received address code in said memory (50) upon recognition of its associated identification code.

Claim 10

A two-way cable television distribution network comprising a headend, a cable, and a plurality of remote subscriber terminals connected via said cable to said headend, each of said subscriber terminals including an addressable converter which is identified by a unique identification code, the headend comprising code transmitting means (20) for transmitting along said cable coded signals including at least one of said converter identification codes and an address code uniquely assigned to that converter, the converter including a memory (50) and processing means (28,44,38,48) for receiving the transmitted code signal from said headend and for permanently storing the received address code in said memory (50) upon recognition of its associated identification code.

Claim 11

The cable distribution system of claim 9, in which each of said converters is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9, in which said converter serial number is stored in a second memory, said serial number recognizing step comprising the step of comparing and detecting a correspondence between the received and stored serial number codes.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 or 10, further comprising the step of, subsequent to the storing of said address code in said memory, transmitting to the converter a site code command containing said address code and a site code common to the converters connected to the headend.