CS83492A3 - Cable television both-way system - Google Patents

Description

8 ^ 1-32.

Technical field

The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for generating and obtaining surveillance statistics from a plurality of remote terminals in a cable television system, and in particular a method and apparatus for remote programming of remote monitoring terminals and recording tracking statistics at certain times and transmitting such data to the system manager in a timely manner. to be collected and processed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The development of cable television systems has reached a state where the flow option in both directions is not only desirable but is practically required by the need to provide new services. E.g. in a pulse-paying monitoring service, where the subscriber can freely choose what to look at and expect to pay for it, at least one data channel similar to a telephone transmission channel or RF channel in the direction / opposite / ie. from a TV component to an end station to report service usage data. Other uses of the return path include reading the energy meter, alarm services, subscriber selection and voting, collecting tracking and subscribing statistics. While not every TV cable operator provides the capability to carry in both directions, cable TV manufacturers have tried to ensure transmission in the opposite direction from the subscriber to the end station. In fact, all manufacturers provide a so-called split or bi-directional system that has a full range of frequencies for transmission in the opposite direction, which contains at least 5 to 30 MHz band. This band includes T7 / 5.75 - 11.75 MHz /, T8 / 11? 75 - 17.75MHz /, T9 / 17.75 - 23.75 MHz / and T10 / 23.75 - 29.75 MHz cable channels. /. These reverse channels, each with a TV signal bandwidth, can be used, for example, for video conferencing. Whilst the station operator uses a "sood split", "medium split" or "high split" system for bidirectional transmission, all three - 2 - pairs of irritated scaling typically include a back - up rate of 5-30 MHz.

The concept of IPPV pulse paying for tracking is well known, but we will describe it briefly for completeness. Essentially, it is a method of sale where a paying subscriber to a cable television can purchase a tracking of a particular program individually. Furthermore, this purchase can only be done on the basis of an "impulse" interaction by the terminal in the subscriber's apartment, although it is not required that the items that are being purchased "are in progress", is required to be able to purchase items that are The purchase must be made in such a way that it does not cause any significant delay in the subscriber's ability to follow the program immediately (ie, immediate rescheduling). Although there are several ways to implement this method of sale, all of these methods have common requirements. decide whether to allow or not to sell and follow-up the program If tracking is allowed, the sale of that particular item must be recorded and reported to what is commonly known as the "billing system" so that the program vendor is paid for "the transaction.

In order to report the sale of the event, the "save and forward" technology is used. In this storage method and handover, the terminal assumes that when the subscriber is given the option PIPV, then the sale of the item is allowed. When the subscriber takes the necessary steps to purchase an item, the terminal will allow tracking of the item (e.g. by decoding the video signal on a particular channel and recording the information or data relating to the purchase of the item. Typically, logs are stored in a secure, non-volatile memory because they represent a payment to a program vendor.

Obviously, the vendor's billing system must from time to time store sales data from all subscriber terminals to get paid. To achieve this, the system control computer (still called the system organizer / periodically asks the terminals to send the IPPV sales data stored in memory).

When the system organizer receives the data from the terminal, it confirms its acceptance terminal / see Citta ad. U3 patent No. 4,536,078, and the data is erased from memory to make room for further data on - 3 - sale. The system organizer forwards the data to the billing system and thus the IPPV purchase cycle is terminated. With the concept of pulse payout tracking, the requirement to collect tracking statistics from remote subscriber terminals is closely linked. Such tracking statistics may include: which channels monitor the subscriber on their TV, whether the TV is on or off, the TV volume level, the TV brightness level std. Furthermore, it can provide information on the number of viewers of the television, their age, gender, etc. It is, for example, highly desirable for cable TV operators to know which TV channels are being tracked at each remote terminal so they can find the success of television programs available to subscribers .

When this tracking information is collected, cable operators will be better able to plan future programs based on their subscribers' real habits and interests. Also, possible cable TV providers can farefully decide on markets where they should broadcast their commercial messages. However, the above list of tracking statistics is not complete because other types of information related to custom habits can also be collected by remote terminals.

Recently, cable television companies have been asked by the authorities to provide emergency and / or "basic" services to certain individuals or to provide certain programs, such as transfers from governmental meetings. Such a request is accompanied by the need to determine their success by measuring the tracking habits of the individuals concerned.

There are a number of ways in cable TV to collect tracking statistics. However, making all of these methods subject to limitations. The sluggish constraint suffered by all these methods is the inability to transmit the required tracking statistics quickly and effectively from each remote terminal to the system manager at the end station.

One way of collecting such tracking statistics consists in the fact that each subscriber is manually interviewed for which television channels they are watching. This can be done by phone, mail / letter / or personally. An obvious disadvantage of this method is that tracking information cannot be collected in time and that the reliability of subscriber memory can be limited in terms of the channels they have tracked some time ago.

Another method used to collect tracking statistics is to generate these tracking statistics at each remote terminal as responses to commands from the system manager in the terminal. Tracking statistics are usually stored in memory located in each remote terminal and then transmitted by pre-existing telephone lines to the system organizer. Although this method provides an improved system for reliably transmitting channel tracking information in a timely manner, it has several drawbacks. First of all, since existing telephone lines are used for transmission, these lines are not available for normal household use during transmission. Second, it is necessary to use a special additional device to connect the remote terminal to the telephone line, which increases the acquisition and maintenance costs of the system. Thirdly, since lines that are not intended for this purpose are used, considerably long additional time is needed, during which a corresponding connection is created for transmission, which significantly reduces the effective throughput of the data. Consequently, there is still a need in the art to find a method and apparatus in a cable television system for the rapid and efficient generation and collection of surveillance monitoring data from remote terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for collecting tracking statistics associated with remote terminals in a system of bi-directional cable television. In particular, the invention relates to the programming of remote terminals to record future channel tracking information and that these remote terminals later return this information in the opposite direction to the system organizer as soon as this information is recorded.

It is one of the objects of the invention that the use of RF subscriber data realization does not require substantial changes to the billing system. Furthermore, RF transmission of subscriber data should work independently of telephone line backlinks; ie they should - 5 - work together, next to each other. Subscriber RF retrieval devices should be compatible with all end station devices used for direct or forward transmission. We can obtain the knowledge of system equipment and terms from this overview: System Organizer is the core computer system of the cable television system. The system organizer receives input commands from both operating operators and billing computers. It generates appropriate control transactions that are transmitted to the front through the control transmitter to the terminals. It receives backward data from a multi-frequency receiver and a processor (referred to herein as IPPV processor) and passes back data to the billing computer. Control transmitters are devices for converting standard RS-232 serial data from a system organizer to a modulated RF signal via cable to IPPV terminals or modules. In a known cable system available from the agents of the invention, the control transmitter may be an ATX addressable transmitter or control unit and terminal station or a combination of both. For the purposes of this invention, the control transmitter is primarily a passage device and is described for completeness only.

Bi-Directional Amplifier These distribution line amplifiers and auxiliary amplifiers amplify and leak a certain portion of the RF sniper in the forward direction and another part of the RF spectrum in the reverse direction. This allows bi-directional transmissions with a single coaxial cable. Also, bi-directional amplifiers are through devices and are described for convenience only.

The terminal is a device forming the interface between the cable system and the subscriber and its television device. Among other functions, terminals perform tuning, down-conversion and decoding of video signals from a cable on an optional basis. They accept both total / global / and addressed control transactions. transactions directed either to all or only to individual terminals / from the transmitter to build and control the services they provide. In addition, the terminal may be provided with an internal RF module or an interface for an additional external module for back-up data, so that either the terminal or the external module may have a reliable steam storage of data on purchased items or other data for retransmission. Further, either the tactile or the coupled module comprises a transceiver of the frequency switching data according to the invention. Such a terminal, either equipped or associated with an IPPV module, will be referred to hereinafter as STT. The IPPV module is a module associated with the terminal if the terminal does not contain an internal data return path transmitter with frequency switching.

The IPPV processor is primarily a frequency-switched RF data receiver for the backend transmitters of IPPV terminals or modules. It also outputs data from modulated RF signals from up to four / or more / different back data channels. It then filters the redundant messages, aggregates the data into packets, and passes the packets through the standard RS-232 data management to the system organizer. At least one IPPV processor is required for each cable TV station.

It is a general object of the present invention that the collection of monitoring statistics work reliably and exhibits high throughput for data, integrity and security. In terms of detail, the invention is designed to meet four specific performance targets: 1. The collection of surveillance statistical data must use a data throughput schedule whereby the maximum amount of data from the terminal must be reversed for a predetermined period of time to be it is possible to monitor regularly what subscribers are watching. 2. The time period allocated to the collection of surveillance statistical data must be fairly long in order to obtain a reliable statistical sample of the viewer population. 3. The time to collect the tracking statistical data from each terminal must be precisely defined to ensure that the actual "snapshot" of the state on a number of terminals is transmitted to the system organizer. 4. The types and formats of statistics; tracking, suitable for generation and collection, must be flexible.

According to the invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for generating and collecting tracking statistical data from a plurality of remote terminals, and the method and apparatus meet the four objectives set forth above. the tracking statistical data may correspond to different types of data according to the types of viewers looking at the TVs connected to the remote terminals or according to data relating to the status of the remote terminal itself.

Each remote terminal has at least one free collection section comprised of a storage location for storing the recording time, a storage location for storing statistical tracking data, and a memory location for storing a time code for recording the recording time, the statistical data information being tracked for further information relating to time, in which statistical monitoring data was generated. In the proposed embodiment, the TV channel being monitored is the one whose + ethistic tracking data is intended to be collected and thus the memory location for storing the tracking statistics will correspond to the memory location for recording the channel. However, a storage location for recording statistical tracking data may just as well be a memory location for storing the power of the sound, a location for storing the indication of switching on and off the network of the remote terminal, or any other indication corresponding to the data relating to viewers watching the television / viewer data / or to what state the television is itself / TV status data /. The recording time consists of information sent in the direction from the system organizer to each terminal, related to some future time in which each terminal is to store the status of certain statistical tracking data. The recording time is stored in a memory location for storing the recording time, and when the recording time equals the normal real time, the status of the remote terminal, which corresponds to the particular type of surveillance data being recorded, is stored in a memory location for storing statistical data about the recording time. the tracking and the time code representing the instantaneous time are stored in the memory location to store the time code. For example, in a proposed storage where a channel is being tracked, which channel is being tracked, the channel being tracked is stored at the memory location of the tracking statistical data / in which case it is not spoken as a storage location for the channel / and the time code is stored in a memory location to store the time code when the recording time equals the current real time.

When the tracking statistical data, e.g., in the proposed embodiment, the channel and time code are stored at the respective memory locations in the remote terminal, the contents of these memory locations are sent to the system organizer either automatically or as a response to the call-to-call signal. The system organizer determines which particular section is backward by comparing the returned timecode with the list of timestamps sent in a straight line to each terminal.

Thus, the system organizer is able to verify which collection section has been sent back by each terminal and can collect statistics for the entire number of terminals.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method for generating and collecting observation statistical data, which consists of the steps described and additional steps. As described above, the recording time is stored in a storage location for storing the recording time and once the recording time is equal to the current real time, the respective tracking statistics and time code are stored on the channel storage location and the time code storage location. However, contrary to the situation where the organizer sends all of the timescale for different collection sections in a straight line, the invention allows the system organizer to send the recording time in a straight line at any time for any section of collection. Thus, it is possible that the system-organizer, in the meantime, programs one channel to record a channel in the future, may simultaneously receive statistical tracking information and a time code from another collection section transmitted from the same or another terminal.

These and other features of the present invention will be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description when read and simultaneously viewed by the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall group diagram illustrating a cable television switchgear with bidirectional amplifiers and splitters that allow remote terminals including transmitters for returning data to be connected to an end station equipped with a frequency-switched data receiver. FIG. 2 is a group diagram showing several portions of the system of FIG. 1, including the billing system, the system organizer, the RF receiver, and the terminal and its associated data return module. FIG. 1 is a group diagram of a typical terminal, wherein the displayed terminal includes a command receiver addressed outside the band. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an IPPV module for the terminal of FIG. 3, wherein the module comprises either a part terminal or is connected to a terminal by a suitable bus system. Fig. 5 is a timing diagram for returning the data from the RF data returning transmitter of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an IPPV / receiver processor that is on the system diagram of Fig. 2. FIG. Figs. 7-11 are schematic diagrams of a plurality of 3 groups of parts of the IPPV processor of Fig. 6; Fig. 7 is an input module, Fig. 8 shows a frequency synthesizer, Figs. 9A-C are an RF receiver, Fig. 10 shows a power signal analyzer, and Fig. 11 shows a control unit assembly. Figure 12 is a timing diagram of an IPPV data transmission sequence. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing individual storage locations associated with each collection section within the terminal. Fig. 14 is a time diagram showing the recording times sent to remote terminals and the resulting time codes returned to the system organizer. FIG. 15 is a timing diagram showing sequences of programming and collection for each of the four pairs of memory locations in the terminal. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a pattern of a statistic response program packet and tracking transmitted from an IPPV processor to a system organizer; includes the content of the response with the programs and tracking statistics as shown in Figure 17. 17 is a diagram showing the content of the response with program statistics and tracking transmitted in the reverse direction from the IPPV module located at the terminal. FIG. 18 is a diagram of the tracking time recording data of the tracking data transmitted in a straight line from the system organizer to the terminal. EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a typical wired television distribution network 100 for distributing cable television signals to subscribers and for receiving feedback messages from subscriber terminals 120. The cable TV network 100 connects the terminal 110 to a set of televisions 130 via cable television terminals 120. The cable network 100 is connected to a tree configuration with branches 148 and 150s using splitters 143. Sometimes jumper switches are used in place of splitters 143 to switch the transmission between terminal 10 and subscribers to only one branch of return to split. One of the objects of the present invention is to eliminate the need for relay switches that were previously used to increase the throughput of the subscriber to the end station. 7 in a straight line, the array typically receives the same signal transmitted from terminal station 110, typically a broadband cable television signal. In future systems with increased bandwidth, such as fiber optic systems, it is unlikely that different subscribers will be able to receive different signals intended only for them, the scope of the drive reserved for telephone companies only. The distribution amplifiers 142 are also regularly distributed in the wired network 100 to amplify the repetition of the transmitted signal. Transmission from subscriber terminal 110 to cable television terminal 120 is susceptible to interference from the incoming longitudinal conduit 141, branches 148, 147, 146, 14? and connections 144.

However, much more serious interference enters the transmission from subscriber to terminal station 110.

The frequency-switched reverse frequency transmitter 200 may be internally or associated with a cable television terminal 120 and allow communication with the terminal 110 by transmitting messages back to the cable television network. The end station 110 includes a frequency changeover RF receiver 300 for receiving messages transmitted by the RF backlinker 200 in a cable television terminal 120 or an associated module located at any point of the entire number of the terminals. Other subscribers equipped with IPPV or other data return services may be equipped with telephone transmitters for transmissions to the telephone processor (not indicated in the terminal). Cable television networks are so-called split systems, equipped for bidirectional transmission, ie transmission from the end station to the subscriber and subscriber to the end station. In these cable television networks, amplifiers 142 are provided for bidirectional transmission including backward gain. Cable TV companies have so far avoided the use of bidirectional transmission in the cable TV network, partly because the back-to-back transmission of the subscriber is much more sensitive to noise. The reverse transmission is more susceptible to interference noise because the cable television network is in the shape of a tree, allowing the propagation and amplification of - 11 - interference noise from all points of the cable television network in the reverse direction. m can be oznaxit as a funnel phenomenon. The nuisance noise 160 and 161 not at connection 144 and at 154 will be combined with nuisance 162 in splitter 143 coupled to port 144 and branch 154. As the signals propagate toward end station 110, noise will be combined with noise on branches 153 , 152, 151, 150 and on all other lines throughout the cable television network. In the reverse direction, it may be difficult to distinguish the transmitted data signal in terminal station 110 from the noise induced in the cable network branches.

Disturbing noise may include pulse noise, common mode distortion, external signal leakage, and amplifier non-linearity. An example of a source of disturbing noise may be flash 10, radio 11 and mains 12. Cable TV networks may contain old and poorly grounded and connected cable shields and the like, allowing noise to enter anywhere in the cable TV network. Aging dividers 143 or old non-linear distribution amplifiers 142 may also cause interference noise. Since interference noise from each individual cable TV line branch affects the retransmission while direct transmission is only affected by the interfering noise of a single line / e.g. branches 141, 148, 147, 146, 145 and attachment 144), the cable television return network requires expensive maintenance more frequently than the forward network. The invention allows for the transmission of feedback signals by an "imperfect" cable television network, since the return transmission has been difficult without costly regular maintenance of the cable television network. The invention allows two-way transmission of cable television network messages even at a higher level of interference than previously possible. The amount of noise that occurs in a typical network of cable TVs at different frequencies is described in the dependent US Application. No. 07 / 562,675 of 3 * 8,1590 entitled " Feedback Method for Cable TV "

And FIG. 2 is an overall solution of the IPPV system of the present invention. According to the invention, the records may contain information relating to age, sex, family status, income, credit, etc. of the participants, which may be used in conjunction with an identification code which a subscriber enters a TV program at a remote terminal rather than watching it, which may be useful to cable TV operators or advertisers, as it will help in the effective marketing of television programs.

Typically, the cable operator either owns a billing computer, rents this equipment from a company that specializes in this type of equipment or shares the time on a machine that belongs to the billing company. The billing computer 305 is coupled to the system organizer 310. The system organizer controls the operation of the cable system. Typically, system organizer 310 is a personal computer such as HP1000 A400 Micro 24 Computer or HP 1000 A400 Micro 14 Computer that has program memory for storing algorithms. The system organizer may advantageously include System Organizer IV or V or Subscriber Organizer V which may be obtained from the Authorized Application. The system organizer 310 maintains a list of all addressable terminals in the cable system as well as services that each terminal is authorized to receive. The System Organizer also determines and maintains the parameters selected by the operator for each system. These parameters may include frequencies associated with individual cable television channels in the system that channel the channels, system security measures, and system time. In addition to this, the system organizer is responsible for authorizing and disallowing "pay-per-view" orders.

System Organizer 310 also stores IPPV information. The system manager resident program reads IPPV transactions, selected from the cable system terminal. The transactions are stored by the system organizer additional bases until they are retrieved by the billing computer 305. The system organizer 310 controls the transmission of the IPPV sales feedback information by sending data requests to the terminals of the cable system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the commands generated by the system organizer can be transmitted to the terminals in one of two ways. In a first method, an ATX addressable transmitter 314 transmits from a system organizer 310, optionally via an end station control unit 312, on a dedicated channel, e.g. 104.2 MHz / in a format understandable to addressable terminals. In the second mode, the commands are transmitted using a so-called "in-band" system when the commands are incorporated into the video signal by the encoder 313. The "in-band" system is described in co-pending application No. 188,481, incorporated herein by reference. to use other methods for both addressing or global data transfer from the terminal terminal subscriber terminal, and the present invention is not to be construed as limited in this regard, for example, data transmission by acoustic frequencies, spread spectrum, or other transmission by the same cable or equivalent a group of alternatives may be used on a switched or private telephone line or on a power line.

Cable system subscribers may be equipped with terminal terminals 315. FIG. 2 shows three terminals, two of which (315a, 315b) are associated with a "in-band" system and one (315c) is associated with an out-of-band system. E.g. the terminals 315a and 315b may be a Scientific Atlanta Model 8585 and 8590, while the terminals 315 may include a Scientific Atlanta Model 8580. The t * terminal allows the subscriber to tune and decode the services required from the cable system operator. Each terminal includes a numeric indicator as a numeric address that allows the operator to send commands directly to an individual terminal. These commands are called addressed commands. The terminals are also capable of receiving global commands processed by all terminals in the cable system. The subscribers authorized to purchase programs via "pay-per-view pulses" are equipped with terminals with embedded pulse modules. In summary, the pulse module allows the subscriber to authorize his terminal to receive the program based on "paying for tracking", storing data associated with the purchase of the order, and transmitting stored data to the cable operator. As indicated in Fig. 2, stored data can be transferred back to the operator by telephone pulse module using a public co-mutated telephone network 317 via telephone processor 321 or over RF pulse module using RF backlink 319 via IPFV 322. Processor RF link will be more detailed The telephone processor 321 and the IPPV processor 322 are connected to the system organizer 310 by a suitable interface such as RS-232. The billing computer 305 sends a transaction to the system organizer 310 that identifies whether the terminal uses the RF backlink 319 or the telephone network 317 in the system. The system organizer 310 then enters the transaction to terminal 315 to trigger it. -til and set. Carp. in the pulse module, the frequencies to be used for RF transmission must be inserted and the calibration procedures described below. These frequencies can be inserted into the module during manufacture, or a global transaction can be inserted there from the system organizer 310 "Another Option" is the insertion of these frequencies by the addressed command.

When the system organizer inserts a configuration transaction into the terminal, additional transactions can be entered to set real time for each terminal. As will be shown below, in this invention, the terminal uses an internal real-time clock and to maintain a high degree of accuracy, it is necessary to use periodic system organizer settings.

FIG. 4 shows a group diagram of a conventional addressable terminal of a known solution, namely a ScientificAtlanta S58O terminal. According to the principles of one embodiment of the invention, the terminal is a through device and is not part of the invention. By its output, the first microprocessor 400 only transmits all commands received by the addressable data receiver 430 to the second microprocessor 504 in the associated backward data IPPV module, indicated in FIG. 4, via data bus 490. 504 of the module of Fig. 4 is incorporated into the first microprocessor 400. in which case a microprocessor with a larger capacity than M5O751 will be needed. The basic building blocks of the out-of-band addressable terminal are the converter and the tuner 410 for receiving and converting the incoming signal from the cable. The data receiver 430 receives a converted out-of-band signal of 104.2 MHz or other suitable data carrier frequency from the converter and tuner 410. The output of the converted television signal is decoded as required by the decoder 420. The decoded channel is converted up to channel 3 or 4 for the television tape recorder or other subscriber device (not indicated). The first microprocessor 400 is associated with a non-volatile first memory 470, a timing logic 480, a user input 440-15 with a keyboard, an infrared or other remote control 450 for receiving a remote control input, and a display 460. The display shows e.g. tuned channel or time of day.

The described Model 8580 terminal is a device of the present invention. Each of the 8570, 8590, and other terminals of other manufacturers normally includes a control processor such as a first microprocessor 400 that must always have inputs and outputs for exchanging data with the module as shown in FIG. 4 or for controlling the element of FIG. if this module does not contain a microprocessor. The second memory 502 of FIG. 4 is a non-volatile memory that simply complements the capacity of the first memory 470. The first microprocessor 400 has access thereto.

To realize home purchase, energy management, meter reading, burglary alarm and other services other than IPPV, the terminal must include appropriate interfaces for input and output of sub-devices in the subscriber's home / none of which is displayed. 3 indicated.

Figure 4 shows a group scheme of an IPPV module according to the invention. The IPPV Module ”is a BPSK microprocessor transmitter used to send information backward to a cable television network from the subscriber site to the end station. The second microprocessor 504 communicates with the first terminal microprocessor 400 and receives the information that it stores in the third memory 503 / for later transmission / transmission. During the transmission cycle, the second microprocessor 504 turns on the frequency synthesis circuitry, programs the appropriate frequency, turns on the amplifier, sets the predetermined gain level of the modulator, and sends the required information.

The second microprocessor 504 is the brain of the module because it determines when to transmit / follow instructions transmitted from the end station, which further discusses and sets the frequency and power level of the transmission and encodes the data stored in the third memory 503 for the transmitter. lání. In order to provide a prompt and efficient return, this data is preferably preformatted when stored in a third memory 503. The end of the transmission, the second microprocessor 504 also turns off the RF circuits, thereby reducing the churning output of the module and reducing overall power. The third memory 503 stores row data (preformatted for transmission), security information, broadcast frequencies, and power levels and identification information of the module. The third memory 503 also stores tracking statistics that correspond to how certain subscribers watch the television, or the state of the television itself, as described in more detail below.

The phase lock loop 505 of the low pass filter 505 and the voltage controlled oscillator 507 synthesize the frequency to be used for transmission. The frequency is synthesized from the 5014 MHz crystal clock, which is also controlled by the second microprocessor 504. This arrangement reduces the number of components needed to carry out the synthesis and also eliminates the problems that might arise when using clocks of the same frequency.

The module phase lock loop 505 receives the serial data from the second microprocessor 504 to set its register * to a particular frequency. The phase lock loop 505 compares the sampled signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator 507 to the signal derived from the clock 4k 4 to determine whether the generated frequency is a higher or lower programmed synthesizer frequency with a polarity representing a "high" or "low" generated frequency. The low frequency pass-through filter6 mathematically integrates this signal and generates a voltage to control the output frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator 507. The output of the oscillator 507 is fed to the modulator 508 and also returned to the phase lock loop 505. broadcasting.

The data filter 510 is a bandpass filter that prevents the power of the transmitted digital information from being modulated onto the RF carrier. Thus, the data filter 510 operates as a limiting modulation energy of the amodulated signal within certain limits.

The modulator 508 receives the filtered data input from the second micro-processor 504 and the RF carrier from the voltage-controlled oscillator 507 and modulates the carrier phase proportionally to the data signals. The modulator also uses the bias generated by the digital-analog odor converter to control the total gain of the modulated signal. The converter is adjusted directly by the second microprocessor 504. The modulator 508 is described in more detail in connection with FIG. 6.

Three RF modulation solutions were considered for RF retrieval data in this invention: Binary keying with frequency shift (PSK), binary key-shift keying (3PSK), and direct spread spectrum sequence - 17 - / DSSS / with BPSK modulation. A number of solutions were considered too complex and unnecessary, as the bandwidth saving is not a critical requirement. Of these three, BPSK has the greatest resistance to broadband noise, DSSS has the most robustness, and FSK is the simplest to implement. On the other hand, BPSK and FSK have low resistance to signal interference on the same frequency, but the DSSS receiver is very complex with a wide noise band. The DSSS transmitter also requires a very complex filter to prevent interference with both the forward and the reverse video. In addition to this, the FSK receiver suffers / in this case / "capture" phenomenon, which is a problem in this situation.

The system of the invention provides some of the best properties. The system uses BPSK signaling on four different frequencies. This solution can be called BPSK with frequency selection / or FDBPSK /. Thus, the receiver's noise bandwidth is very narrow, utilizing the BPSK's inherent noise suppression properties, and discrete frequency interference is avoided at appropriate frequency selection. However, while the foregoing reasons used BPSK modulation in the invention, other modulation methods may be used, and the invention is not limited thereto. For a full description of BPSK modulation, see U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07 / 562,675, issued Aug. 3, 1990, entitled " Feedback Method for Cable TV, "

The end amplifier 509 amplifies the resulting signal from the modulator 088 to the desired module output level. The amplifier amplification is only a fixed level, wherein the counter-control signal 513 controls the switching on and off of the amplifier 509.

The anti-crosstalk control 517 is a circuit allowing the second microcontroller 504 to control the state of the end amplifier 509. In the event of a failure of the second microprocessor 504, the counterclockwise control 313 turns off the end amplifier 509 after a predetermined time or after several consecutive transmissions. This prevents the module from sending longer messages than suggested or more often than intended without considering the state of the microprocessor. Terminals that "babble" or "scream" are uncontrolled and generate interfering messages that can block the entire system when it is enabled. The anti-crosstalk circuit prevents "babbling" by turning off the data transmitter after a predetermined period of time, which would require the longest message. Anti-crosstalk is described in commonly assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,692,919, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The composite filter 511 is a filter of two separate parts: a bandpass filter 515 for 12-19 MHz for module transmitter harmonic suppression, and a high pass filter 516 for 54-870 MHz for cable television signals that pass through the terminal without interference. The design considerations associated with the solution of the IPPV module for so-called "internal" systems are not particularly suitable for the so-called "external" systems. For example, indoor systems include both band-addressable and out-of-band addressable terminals such as Scientific Atlanta 8570, 8580, and 8590. "External * conditions assume the displacement of a terminal device from a subscriber object. Such" external "systems include e.g. As a result, there is, for example, at least house-wiring, cable separation between a cable television terminal and a subscriber device that is not particularly suitable for data transmission. for IPPV, home shopping and such bidirectional services that cannot be realized by a conventional television receiver, as a consequence of this, it would be difficult to implement the module of Fig. 4, which assumes a bus or other path between the terminal and the module, with conventional home cables or connections. a particular transmission solution dealing with the principles of terminal and module solutions, which can be extended by the solution of the indoor-terminal to the solution of the IPPV module for component units in the so-called external system of prohibition and containment.

We will now describe the operation of each of the previously described portions of the invention.

As mentioned earlier, in order for each terminal 315 to transmit consultation information to the system organizer 310, it must have a return path (as opposed to a forward path used to transmit control information to the system organizer 310 to terminal 315). We mentioned, intends and uses the IPPV system in cable networks that have the ability to split back channels. These cable systems have amplifiers that can do that? - they propagate the channels T7, T8, Ϊ9 and T10 / approximately 0-30 MHz / reverse direction, ie to the end station.

The invention proposes an IPPV module according to Fig. 4, which utilizes portions of T8 channel for transmissions from terminals or IPPV module to a data switch with frequency switching at the end station via an optional series of modulated channels with data carrier frequencies. for video or other conferences, data transfers that are generally restricted to the T8 channel band are not adversely affected.

The use of return channels in the wired network as a data transfer network for selecting information from subscriber terminals suffers from two fundamental drawbacks: the high noise and disruptive back-up environment, as discussed in detail earlier, and the lack of concurrency access by which they can compete for access to the network. Both problems arise from the topology of the system, which is an inverted tree, as unmarked in FIG. 1. From the liability point of view, tree branches can act as a large annuity network. Faulty shielding and broken or loose cable system connections allow RF interference to enter the system as we described earlier. Since the amplifiers are set to total one amplification, the noise and noise in the band are regenerated in each amplifier. In addition, in the backward direction of noise and noise from each branch they are combined in each node of the network. As a result, all the asum interference that has penetrated the entire cable system is finally read at the end station where the IPPV RF data receiver is located. To minimize these problems associated with the use of cable TV rollbacks for data transmission, a number of four channels from a range of 23 data channels of 100 kHz in the T8 TV channel band for use in this RF IPPV system, based primarily on considerations of data throughput. As will be described below, the invention is not to be construed as limited to four channels, but may use more than four channels. The probability of receiving messages increases with every other channel used, but the cost of additional transmitters and receivers becomes prohibitive.

The 6 MHz video channel can be divided into 60 100 kHz transmission channels, of which 23 are used. Four of the 20-channel channels are selected according to the noise frequency and interference. - 20 -

Both transmitters and receivers are frequency variables. Frequencies used for retransmissions can be automatically programmed by the system organizer * to avoid the channels that contain *! noise or more interference. These frequencies can be changed as often as necessary to accommodate time-varying interference.

Each transmitter will progressively transmit its data, preferably at a rate of 20 kbps, not at each of the four frequencies. At the end station, four receivers (one tuned to each channel) are used. This arrangement provides redundancy for each message. The probability of an error caused by interference on the same frequency is now a product of four probabilities that interference is present on all four channels at the time this channel is used. The result is a very high proportion of broadcasting and successful reception. Note that this method may provide better parameters than spread spectrum systems because the sequential transmission arrangement provides both time and frequency variation. In a typical return system, four vi-deo channels are available: T7, T8, T9 and T10. Typically, the lowest channel T7 has the highest noise level of the highest channel T10 the least noise. This would lead to the conclusion that byT10 was the best. However, in the selection of frequencies, other aspects that are described in detail in the co-pending application of US Pat. No. 07 / 562,675, filed Aug. 3, 1990, entitled Cable Television Reverse Transmission Method, which is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, with the 1PPV system, it is desirable to be able to require a backward report or to select terminals equipped with IPPV modules according to several different criteria. The following list summarizes the most useful cases for requesting back data from certain groups of terminals: 1. Unconditionally, ie all terminals must report. 2. All terminals containing IPPV data of one or more programs. 3. All terminals containing IPPV data on a particular meeting. 4. Certain terminals individually, regardless of serial data.

Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, it is very important, even in the first case / unconditional / requesting data, that all terminals be able to return data in a period of less than 24 hours. This should be possible for a number of terminals of a thousand or a few hundred thousand, leading to a throughput requirement of around 25,000 IPPV data response per hour.

Each of the narrowband data channels can only transmit one message at a time. This means that when two or more terminals, wherever in a given cable system, send messages that overlap, transmissions will interfere and all data affected by the collision is likely to be lost. Therefore, the majority of the above cases require some media access control procedure to prevent multiple terminals from simultaneously attempting to use the feed back channel. However, all of these cases could be addressed as a number of individual data requirements / as in the fourth case. However, this is incompatible with the throughput requirement of the system message delay associated with a typical request-response message sequence. It is much more efficient to send a single group request for a datarelatively large group of terminals, which then returns data according to a schedule or "media access protocol". This protocol must ensure a high degree of success, ie no co-loci.

Unfortunately, known media access protocols, such as those used in local networks, which rely on carrier sensing mechanisms to prevent collisions, are unsuitable for use with a cable system. The topology of the inverted cable system tree sums the transmitted signals from each branch and propagates them to the end station. Terminals located in different branches, each isolated by a node amplifier or other device, cannot detect the presence of an actively transmitting terminal in another branch.

Another access protocol, time interleaving, also suffers from time-varying message delay in the worst case. This forces the Time slot for each terminal to be unbearably long, which reduces throughput. All of these circumstances have led to the development of a media access protocol that provides acceptable high throughput with calculated collision tolerance. The method uses the predicted statistical probability of collision / and, conversely, successful passage of messages / for - the assumption of a controlled evenly distributed frequency of terminal attempts to transmit back data.

In a very simple way, according to this method, the system organizer sends data requests for manageable large subgroups of the total number of terminals. / These subgroups are independent of the four choices listed above. / Each subgroup of the group has a defined time period in which to return data. Within this period, each terminal independently selects the programmed pseudo-random moments number for the start of the transfer back data. When using relatively large subgroups, the return attempts are statistically evenly distributed within the period. Further, since the median frequency of the attempts is predetermined and the median length of the return message is known, the resulting probability can be predicted for at least one successful backward message for any terminal. While this statistical concept is the basis of the data-return method, a number of longer key elements are needed to be able to operate. These can be summarized as follows: 1. Determine the optimal rate of attempts, which gives the best effective throughput of the back data. 2. The total number of terminals at the cable system's end station is divided into manageable subgroups of known range. The size and number of subgroups as well as the data return period can be determined for a given optimum frequency of the pieces. 3. A data return plan is needed to provide the structure of the way the system organizer will request back data from each group. 4. A set of rules controls how terminals in groups respond to data return requests and to validate data within the backward data.

FIG. 6 shows a more detailed schematic diagram of the processor IPPV of FIGS. The transmitted carrier can be set at 100 kHz in the 11.8 to 17.7 MHz frequency band, giving a choice of a maximum of 50, preferably 23 different, 100 kHz band channels. The modulated carrier from + terminal or module - 23 - contains 3PSK 20 kbps information in foiller code. signals from the entire set of terminals in the system are combined and returned to the IPPV proceor located at the end station. The function of the IPPV processor is to receive return input signals, demodulate information, and pass the decoded message to the system organizer.

While only the reverse data transmission from the terminal is described in detail, the processor of the invention can also be used to monitor the bi-directional amplifiers with other elements of the cable distribution equipment equipped with data transmitters. The IPPV processor can also receive signals transmitted from 32RT and other test devices connected at any point in the wired network.

Referring to FIG. 6, the RF return signal is typically received at a single carrier level of + 12 dBmV. The IPPV processor is designed to operate within a single carrier level of + 2 to + 22 dBmV. If they are at different frequencies, the IPPV processor can simultaneously receive, demodulate, and decode the four modulated carriers; only the non-redundant decoded messages are sent from the IPPV processor control module via the RS-232 serial interface to the system organizer.

The first element of the IPPV processor that we describe is the so-called input module 800. The RF feedback signal from the terminal is inputted from the input cable to the input model connector 800, which preferably contains separate units. The input module 800 provides the input signal with a 75. Nominal terminating impedance. This unit consists of a bandpass filter, a preamplifier and a splitter that divides the incoming RF signal into four RF receiver modules A through D. The T8 bandpass filter is negligible. and distortion in suppressing signals outside the field. Preamplifier compensates for filter loss and power loss. The signals are input from the RF connectors of the input module to four RF receivers. The input module has a gain of approximately 1 dB, so that the signal applied to the RF receivers 810 to 81? has a level of approximately + 13 dBmV. All internal coaxial connections of the IPPV processor with the exception of the input RF signal are terminated with a nominal impedance of 50 Q, wiring supplying + 24 V as and ground, is fed directly to the UPS / not indicated to the input module. The input module 800-24 has no direct connection to the 840 control module. All other IPPV processor receivers and synthesizers are connected to the 840 control module.

The second main building block of the IPPV processor is the receiver. In the IPPV processor there are four blocks A to D of RF receivers 810-813. They are functionally equivalent units, three of which supply 50 Q terminations at the signal strength analyzer output so that these units are interchangeable . The fourth receiver channel D is indicated with coaxial connection to the block of signal strength analyzer 830. The RF receiver converts the signal coming from the input module using the frequency synthesizer output as the local oscillator (on the higher side). The synthesizer output frequency may be between 22.5 and 28.4 MHz, and is preferably between 26.2 and 28.4 MHz, corresponding to an input frequency range of 11.8 to 17.7 MHz, or preferably 15.5 to 17.7 MHz. The intermediate frequency signal is at 10.7 MHz. The 10.7 MHz tuner, the 10-MHz frequency inter-channel filters, the downstream channels and other mixer products pass the desired signal. The narrowband inter-frequency signal is then detected by the circuit, which provides a rough estimate of the signal strength. The output is the DC voltage RSSI, proportional to the received RF signal. This voltage is fed to the control module along with the other RF link wiring signals. The RSSI information indicates the terminal's feedback signal as received by the IPPV processor. This information is available to the system organizer. · RSSI for a terminal indicates which terminals need a new calibration. To do this, the system organizer maintains a list of "too high" and "too low" RSSIo terminal data, so it is possible to include these terminal addressing addresses for re-calibration. equivalent timing with new terminals requiring calibration for the first time, RSSI data tables per time unit can also be used to determine the climb or descent characteristics for all 23 channels that can be sent from a particular terminal. - based on optimal results for the calibration channel, determine the appropriate transmission levels for all category one and category 2 channels.

The main function of the RF receiver is to demodulate the BPSK of the 10.7 MHz IF signal. The signal is demodulated using a double symmetric mixer. The unmodulated / data sequence is filtered asynchronously. These detected 20 kbps data in the Miller code are placed in the control module, the HSST voltage deriving function, and all four RF receivers perform BPSK demo. The narrowband filtered intermediate frequency 10.7 MHz signal at a level of approximately + 13 d3mV is fed from the RF receiver D to the 3-signal analyzer block. The signal strength analyzer 830 is associated with the RF receiver function. The function of the signal strength analyzer block is to detect the 10.7 MHz signal level coming from the RF receiver selected for calibration purposes. This RF receiver output is not subject to automatic AGG gain control; as a result, any change in the input level to the IPPV processor results in a change in the 10.7 MHz IF signal at the input of the signal strength analyzer. When the RF reverse system is calibrated, the signal strength analyzer detects the control module 830 by detecting a 10.7 MHz signal which terminal or module IPPV output level corresponds to the received signal level of + 12 dBmV. The control module 840 will in turn inform the system organizer via the RS-232 interface. Until the next calibration cycle (described in more detail below), the system organizer instructs the terminal to use the transmit signal level reported by the control module.

The 10.7 MHz + 13 dBmV inter-frequency signal is terminated by 50 Q for the signal strength analyzer. The two isolation amplifiers have a gain of approximately 30 dB for the inter-frequency frequency. The amplified intermediate frequency signal is detected by the diode circuit. The second diode circuit is similar to the DC bias. The outputs of both diode circuits are summed up for temperature compensation according to the known technique. The output accurately reflects the level of the intermediate frequency signal, and the components of both diodes are compensated. This detected signal is filtered and further amplified. The final DC output signal, proportional to the level of the IF signal, is input to the control module.

The frequency synthesizer controlled by the system generator generates frequencies for demodulating incoming data carriers.

A frequency synthesizer is a local oscillator for converting a single kmi to a 26-bit that runs in the RF receiver. A single-frequency synthesizer block contains four separate units, i.e., 3-synthesizers 820 to 823. The control module 840 supplies frequency tuning information via serial data commands. The four frequency synthesizer units 820 to 823 are referred to as frequency synthesizers A, B, C and I), which correspond to RF receivers 810 to 813. In the T8 channel bandwidth, there are a total of 60 frequencies that can be set to the controllers. module 840; however, only 23 are used according to the invention. The output frequency range is preferably 25.1 to 28.4 Hz Hz and is converted down to the top of the T5 band, ie 14.4 to 17.7 MHz. The frequency resolution is 100 kHz. The output signal is at a typical level of + 17 dBm.

Each frequency synthesizer unit includes an oscillator, a frequency divider, a PLL phase loop, an integrated loop 10a active loop filter. These parts together form a loop of phage hinge. The output frequency of the oscillator is phase and frequency coherent with the freely running 4 MHz crystal oscillator. The phase lock loop ensures that the synthesizer output is spectrally clear and frequency accurate. The oscillator output is driven by an anti-tactile silencer. The counteracting solution is used to obtain the required level of + 17 dBm of the local oscillator.

A group scheme of the input module is shown in Fig. 7. The input and power division module consists of a band-pass preselector filter 900, preamplifier 910, including, for example, P134 of the 930 splitter for powering four RF receiver modules. Only the amplification of all modules including transformer 920 is indicated. 3 with reference to FIG. 8, we will now describe in more detail the arrangement of the IPPV processor frequency synthesizer. The frequency synthesizer assembly includes four subgroups on the printed circuit boards as indicated in Figure 8. Each subset is set to a particular frequency by the control module 840 of the IPPV processor. The frequency synthesizer range is preferably between 26.2 and 28.4 KHz, and can be up to 22.5 to 28.4 MHz. Debug resolution is 100 kHz. Each of the four frequency synthesizer subgroups can be set to any of the 60 channel range 22.5 to 28.4 MHz. The RF output subset of the synthesizer frequency is the local oscillator signal for one of the four RF receivers in the IPPV processor. The local oscillator is on the higher side, so - 27 - the RF range of 15.5 MHz to 17.7 MHz converts down to the 10.7 MHz receiver intermediate frequency. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a subset of the frequency synthesizer. Again, there are four three-group groups in the synthesizer assembly.

The base frequency crystal 1000 4ΙΙ is connected to the high-amplification feedback amplifier 1001. The amplifier is part of a large integration element with a phase lock loop, preferably the Motorola MC145158. The 4 MHz output signal is fed inside the counter to counter 1002 operating as a frequency divider of 1: 40.

Phase and frequency detector 1003 compares two 100 kHz output signals / 100 kHz / a variable. Generates an error pulse when both inputs are not on the same frequency and phase. These pulses oscillator such that a variable 100 kHz signal is forced to have the same frequency and phase as the 100 kHz reference signal. When tonastane, the output of the frequency synthesizer will be on the correct frequency. The split error signals from the phase detector 1003 and frequency lead from the element to the loop filter 1004 and the associated components. This filter 1004 filters the error signals and converts them to a nonsymmetric tuning voltage controlled by the oscillator 1005. The oscillator 1005 includes a transistor Q1 and associated components. The oscillator 1005 is designed such that the output voltage in the desired output range of 22.5 to 28.4 MHz or more preferably 26.2 to 28.4 MHz is matched to the input voltage at the input. The output of the oscillator is fed to the isolating amplifier Q2 1006. This amplifier 1006 provides a relatively high impedance and separates the oscillator from the double divider 1005 and the power amplifier Q3, Q4 1009. A separate output signal amplifier is fed to a double divider 1008. where the frequency diverges ten or eleven. The programmed double divider 1008 together with the dividers A and 100 '1007 forms a total divider with the ratio Nt = 10xN + A. The counters N and A are programmed by the 840 processor-IPPV control module with serial commands such as Pout = Ntx0.1 MHz. E.g. the control module sets Nt to 250 for the 25.0 MHz output frequency. The nt can be set to any of the 60 values between 225 and 284 by the control module, but preferably between 251 and 284. The function of the double divider control line is to determine when the divider will divide ten and when eleven. - 28 -

The isolating amplifier Q2 1006 also excites the power amplifier Q3, Q4 1009 »The potentiometer setting is used / not indicated to give the output signal level about + 17 dSm. The power amplifier is connected to a low-pass filter 1010, which mainly weakens the second and third harmonics of the output signal synthesizer. The output + 17 dBm frequency synthesizer is introduced by the associated RF amplifier IPPV,

The group diagram of the RF receiver module is shown in Figures 9A-C.

There are four separate RF receiver modules. Referring first to 9A, each of the RF receivers includes a mixer 1101 for converting input signals to an intermediate frequency of 10.7 MHz. It uses seinjection from the top. The intermediate frequency signal passes through the ceramic filters 1104 and 1105 to suppress the signals of adjacent channels and distortion products.

The intermediate frequency signal then passes through amplifier 1106 and level detector 1115. The detector circuit derives a rough determination of the HSSI signal strength. The level detector circuit 1115 is formed in a known manner, for example, from the NB604AN element. The ESSI output is an analog voltage that is transmitted to the digital control module 840 for transmission to a system organizer.

Further, the intermediate frequency signal passes through the directional coupler 1108. The branched output is applied to the external output to use the SSA signal strength analyzer. The intermediate frequency signal is then further amplified and fed to the demodulator.

Referring to FIG. 9B, the demodulator preferably comprises a frequency doubler 1255 and a carrier resurfacing oscillator 1130. The detection of data according to Fig. 90 is accomplished by a modem filter, a clock regeneration circuit, and a sampling circuit. The demodulator output is digital data.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a power signal analyzer is indicated which receives a signal indicating the signal strength of the RF receivers. The signal strength analyzer module is used to obtain accurate measurement of the transmitted data. RF signal to be measured from the intermediate frequency of one of the RF receiver modules, eg channel D. The signal strength analyzer module consists of a 1200 30 dB preamplifier, a 1201 level detector, and a 1202 isolation stage. is sent to the control module of the IPPV processor to be digitally converted and transmitted to the system's organizer. By entering the differential amplifier 1203, Fred uses two diodes to achieve thermal compensation, i.e., the diode compensation 1204 compensates the detector diode 1201 level.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a control module that controls IFPV processor power is indicated. Nedul sets up synthesizers, monitors signal strength, decodes received messages from RF receivers, checks for message validity, and transmits messages to system organizer.

The control module board consists of six functional blocks, as shown in FIG. panel. The 1300 microprocessor control used in the control module is Intel80188. It is a 16-bit processor with 2 direct memory access channels, 4 interrupt levels, 3 timers, 13 decoded address ranges and an 8-bit external interface.

The memory subsystem consists of dynamic 'RAM' 1380256 K for messages and variable storage, non-volatile RAM 1370 2K for parameters and sleeves for 128K EPROM1360 memory for storing programs. K. desires, for example, to store statistics on groups, valid received messages, calibration results, and others for system terminals, as a result of which these memories must have a reasonable packet capacity of data packets. for storing messages from terminals, the "OAS regeneration cycles before: RAS" dynamic RAM is performed for each EPROM read cycle. Normal EPROM instruction selections should be sufficient to regenerate the contents of the dynamic RAM. if there is more than 15 fis between EPROM accesses, the DMA will read from EPRO M. The LOS microprocessor memory 80188 is used to access dynamic RAM, and after resetting, the LGS memory must be programmed to the active memory area. After the initial-setting of the DMA controller, the regeneration is without software influence. There are two EPROM 1360 program slots available - 30 - for up to 128K program memory. These sleeves can be used for any EPROM elements between 2764 and 27512. One sleeve is for UCS access and the other for MCS3. After resetting, the UGS will be active in the memory range from FFBFO to FFFFF / hexadecimal. The MCS3 must be converted to the active region.

One Memory Element 2K EEPROM. It is available as Energy Independent Steam £ 1370 to store configuration information. In the EEPROM memory Two copies of the configuration information are stored. 3 each copy A checksum is stored as a means of verifying the copy's accuracy. If one copy is damaged, for example, by interrupting the power during the recording operation, a second, correct copy is used to repair the damaged copy. The programmer must be careful not to enter the EPROM after 10 ms after the chip is recorded. There is no need for recovery delay after the reading cycle. The chip is accessed from the MCSO. The MCSO must be programmed to the active area.

Each RF receiver channel has its own Intel 8097 1310 -1340 interface processor. controls the frequency of the RF synthesizer modules.

Each of the 1310 - 1340 interface processors has its associated RAM 1311 - 1341 1K syllables with two inputs / outputs. These memories are used to transmit data and commands between the contact processors and the control microprocessor 1300. The memory includes a two-way interrupt mechanism. The software may define any suitable protocol for using memory and interrupts. There are EPROMs 1312 - 1342 for storing programs for interface processors 131Q to 1340. Light emitting diodes 1313 - 1343 are also available as receiver status indicators, as will be explained below. The common UART 8250 serial element is used to implement the 1350 serial interface to the system organizer. One of the interruptions of the 1300 microprocessor is coupled to the 1350 interface so that the serial interface can be interrupted. Element 8250 can operate at frequencies up to 38.4 kBd. Modem / RT3, ETR, etc. are available for challenge-response. The multiplexer in the system organizer can use or ignore these sig - 31 - cells as desired. The receiver has a data terminal configuration similar to a known telephone processor board. The front panel includes a keyboard 860, a liquid crystal display 850, and a light emitting diode block 1390. The 860 keypad preferably contains sixteen keys for the decimal digits 0 through 9a of the function key, such as help, next page, next line, input, reset, and menu / menu. The keyboard and display allow you to configure without switching, indicating significant errors, and local access to built-in test and diagnostic routines. Klok1390 LEDs provide an indication of different states as we explain below.

A liquid-crystal display with four lines of sub-characters is accessible via two register-provided outputs. The angle can be changed by pressing the keyboard as described. The display data is inserted into one output and the sample commands are sent to the second output. The sampling of the display is relatively slow / 1 ms /. Pressing the key generates an interruption of the microprocessor control 1300. The coded key data is identified by reading a four-bit register. When accessing this registry, the interrupt is reset. The keyboard logic includes a counter-leak circuit that prevents further interruption to be delayed. The control module 840 also provides power to the IPPV processor. The control module turns on the elements as needed. Each of the cables that connects this board to the RF receiver or synthesizer includes four lines + 12V, 3 lines - 12V, 3 lines + 5V and six ground wires as needed.

LEDs are on the front of the processor to monitor the status of the IPPV12. Eight LEDs, two for each RF receiver 1313 - 1343, indicate the status of four RF receivers. Also available is a light emitting diode block 1390 comprising four light emitting diodes. Two LEDs monitor the serial input / output operation. One LED indicates the status of the isolation amplifier, the fourth LED indicates the power status. These four diodes are shown as a block 1390 of light emitting diodes connected to a bus system via asynchronous flip flops. - 32 -

When data is received on the channel, the upper natomto channel LED flashes green. The bottom LED on each channel will be green when the channel is active and red when the channel is off. Inserting the wrong frequency into the system organizer or into the front panel will cause the channel to turn off. Normally, all channels should be active.

In the unlikely event that one of the receivers fails the diagnostic test, the top LED of this channel will be permanently red and the lower LED will flash red.

The two light emitting diodes, designated TXD and RXD, indicate the activity of the serial input / output linking the IPPV processor to the system organizer. If data is transferred from the processor to the system organizer, TXD will blink. Conversely, if the processor receives data from the system manager, RXD will blink.

The Buffer LED indicates the buffer memory state between the IPPV and the system organizer. If the light emitting diode is off, there is no data system organizer in the data buffer. If the LED is green, it is steaming less than. half full. If you steam! it fills more than halfway, the light emitting diode goes green to blinking green. When you steam! completely filled, the light emitting diode goes to flashing red. Under normal circumstances, equalizing steam! she should never be completely full.

The Power / Power LED will be green when the power is on. When the power is turned on, this light dio will be briefly red, then turns green. If the IPP Processor ever gets out of fusible state, this light-emitting diode would change briefly to red while the processor itself would re-start. The system manager's calibration program with the IPPV processor is responsible for calibrating the IPPV module transmitters associated with the terminals. The calibration procedure ensures that the transferred data from the terminal reaches the processor at the appropriate level. Furthermore, automatic and periodic calibration of all terminals in the system eliminates any requirement for automatic control of amplification in the IPPV processor. The calibration controller controls the flow of command to the IPPV module during the calibration sequence and determines its calibration status based on the responses it receives from the module. The control program and - 33 - procedure are fully written in the US application filed. No. 07 / 562,675, Aug. 3, 1990, Invited A method for returning to a cable television as referred to herein.

The present invention allows each terminal to generate and collect system monitoring data from the system organizer at predetermined times. The generated and collected tracking statistical data may contain various data that can be determined by the terminal, such as viewer profile data or TV status data. Viewer profile data includes information such as who watches certain TV programs, the person's age, the gender of the person, etc. The TV status data includes such information as the TV program is watching, the strength of the channel being watched, the brightness of the TV channel, and so on. In one embodiment of the invention, the clover channel that monitors one or more subscribers is the particular statistical tracking information that is generated and collected. The process of generating and collecting this type of tracking statistics will be discussed in detail below. The apparatus and methods of generating and collecting other types of tracking statistics will naturally be very similar to those of the present embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 13; there are different memory locations in each terminal. Each terminal has a plurality of collection slots that consist of a PTSL recording time memory location, a channel identification memory location CSL / memory location for time tracking and a time code storage location TCSL. in this embodiment, the system organizer generates a global transaction that defines four recording times in which the IPPV module should record the channel to which it is terminal tuned. Recording times are stored in the RTSL ^ to sts14 storage locations for the recording time at each terminal; these memory locations typically consist of non-volatile third-memory / NVM 507 memory locations in Fig. 4 /, but may also be arbitrary memory locations. Recording times may have any suitable period, such as day, week, two weeks, etc.

By way of illustration, we assume that the system organizer will give the IPPV module a command to record a channel tuned to a terminal on Sunday at 7.00 pm, Tuesday at 9.00 am, Thursday at 8.00-34 - evening and Thursday at 10am , 00 evening 3 reps every week. As explained in the foregoing, these four recording times are stored in four memory locations oro time recording / 3TSLq. to ZTSLq / preferably in a non-volatile third memory 503. The real time clock derived from the 4 MHz / 501 crystal clock in FIG. 4 / maintains normal real time for each IPPV module. In order to maintain accuracy and consistency, these clocks can be periodically updated by the system organizer by direct transaction.

The second microprocessor 504 periodically compares the different recording times stored in the third memory 5.03 with the real time value, and when they match, the IPPV module records the channel marking corresponding to the recording time in the GSL memory location, which channel has just been tuned. As shown in FIG. 4, the channel memory location is located in the third memory 503 and the second microprocessor 504 controls the storage therein. The microprocessor 504 receives the monitored channel data from the first bus 490 from the first microprocessor 400 / FIG. 3 / terminal. The first microprocessor 400 receives an indication of the channel being monitored from the first memory 470.

As mentioned earlier, this statistical data and tracking is included in statistical responses to programs and tracking, transferred in the opposite direction to the system organizer. E.g. The answer contains information related to the number of syllables in the message, message type, terminal digital address, recording times, and channels that have been tuned by the terminal and their recording times and whatever purchase. However, the content of this reply is not limited to this data; the response may also, in another embodiment, include data representing other statistical tracking data relating to certain television users watching television programs or data of their own television set. In the proposed embodiment, the recording time transmitted to the terminals is composed of a multi-bit value that uniquely identifies one or more specific future times at which the required tracking data is to be recorded. The number of unique times that can be defined in this case can be given by the following formula:

The number of unique times = 2 ^, where b is equal to the number of bits used. E.g. when the recording time consisted of a 16-bit quantity that uniquely specifies an inter-35-minute interval, 65 · 536 different single-minute intervals may be displayed. Since the hour is 60 minutes and the day has 24 hours, this resolution can theoretically correspond to any one minute interval in the 45 day period (65.536 / 60/24 = 45.5 ../). It is equally good to use a larger, smaller number of bits, giving more or less resolution / nspr. up to one second / or a shorter or longer time interval. When the recording time has been sent to all terminals, it is stored in the RTSL steam room for the recording time associated with a particular collection section that is addressed. Then, when the recording time stored on a particular collection section coincides with the existing real time clocks located in the terminal, the channel name currently being monitored is stored at the channel storage location CSL for that collection section and the time slot. the code corresponding to the current time is stored in the corresponding time code memory location. Since it is possible that the terminal in question is not currently operating the TV, it is possible to make arrangements to record also the status of the terminal switch. The subgroup schematic of the terminal in Fig. 3 includes powering an auxiliary AC socket into which the television can be turned on. Then, when the viewer turns off the terminal with an external keyboard, the socket is turned off and the TV is turned off. The first microprocessor 400 checks that the socket is turned on or off, and this status information can be stored in the channel storage location or instead of the observed channel.

As previously described, different types of statistical monitoring data may be stored at a time when the recording time is equal to the value of the real time clock. For convenience, the types of data that can be monitored and recorded on a remote terminal can be divided into two categories: Viewer profile data may include data such as identifying the viewer that follows the television program, this viewer, and its gender. Going back to Fig. 3, a keyboard V3 is shown in the user V3tup 440, which the user of the terminal can implement commands and data. This keyboard can be used by the player to record its identity before or during a TV program. This data can then be stored together with other statistical data in the third memory 503 or in another memory, or may be included in / sent back to the system orgonizer and compared with the viewer profile data to determine - a fictional type of audience watching different television programs.

In addition to the data introduced by the television program viewer via the keyboard, a unique remote terminal code identifier assigned to different remote terminals may be included as tracking statistical data in a response sent back to allow comparison with subscriber profile data stored by the system organizer. Subscriber profile data relating to a particular remote terminal, as opposed to an individual viewer, may be used to detect a household image in a tracking relationship rather than an individual viewer. In order to collect this information, it would not be necessary for an individual viewer to introduce his or her identity with the keyboard terminal because the remote terminal identification code would already be stored at a particular remote terminal.

The TV status data may include data such as the TV channel being monitored, whether the TV is on or off, the TV sound level, the TV brightness, etc. This information may be directly accessible to the IPPV module and terminal and may be stored together with other statistical data about the TV. tracking in the third memory 503 or in another memory and sent back to the system organizer with any viewer profile data as previously mentioned.

When the recording time has passed and the channel and time code have been recorded, the system organizer may issue either global or addressed selection to have the terminal (s) send content from one of its channel locations and time code back to system organizer. At this point, each terminal sends a response in which the tracking statistical data (in the proposed embodiment, the tracked channel data) and the time code data will be included in the system organizer for processing. We will describe the content and format of this answer later in more detail.

Said time code is stored in the memory of the terminal and sent to the system organizer to ensure that the system organizer will be able to distinguish which channel the information is receiving from. Each of the different collection sections will be re-programmed and select data for different times and it is therefore necessary to assign tracking information sent back from each terminal to a specific point in time at which it was generated. - 37 -

Nspř. if the terminal is unable to send its channel monitoring information to the collection section before this particular section is re-programmed to Another Recording Time, the returned time code will serve as an indication that the observed channel information was generated for an earlier programming and collection cycle. This can be done because the system organizer is able to track the recording times associated with each section to compare this information with the returned time code.

As well as the recording time, the time code is a multibit quantity that uniquely identifies a specific point in time within a specified time period. In this case, if the formula given in the preceding is used, 2θ or 256 different one-hour intervals may be shown. Since the day is 24 hours, it corresponds to about ten days (256/24 = 10.6 "). Similarly, in another embodiment, the time code may have a higher resolving resolution within a longer or shorter time period.

Referring now to FIG. 14, there is a timing diagram showing the recording times sent to the terminals and the resulting time codes returned to the system organizer in the proposed embodiment we have just described. In the proposed embodiment, the resolution time of the record times ΡΤη_ to RT4 is in minutes, while the resolving power of the TCn time codes etc. is in hours. Also, four sections A to D are realized to record information about the monitored channels, not more than four times per hour. 7 of this embodiment, the time code resolution of one hour is sufficient to uniquely identify the code in which a particular free segment has been programmed. It is assumed that two consecutive recording times of any particular section will never fall to the same clock, ε therefore, the resolution of one hour for the time code is sufficient to adequately identify the tracking information that is returning. In other words, the x-ray code resolution is not tied to the Recording time resolution but only to the number of collection slots used and how often these sections are used (in this case once per hour). Since the system authority monitors the time for which a particular section has been programmed, there is no ambiguity as to which recording time the tracking information is related to, since no collection section is used more than once per hour. Also, since the number of bits of the time code is kept to a minimum, the time required to transfer the time code back to the system organizer is minimized, thereby reducing the likelihood of collision between lower terminal transmissions. For example, suppose in Fig. 14 that the recording times RT1, R2, RVj and RT4 correspond to 7.10, 7.25, 7.35 and 7.50, which are all times the same one hour periods 7.00 to 8.00. When the recording time is equal to the real time clock, for each terminal the channel being watched is stored in the memory location for the channel and the current time, in hourly increments saves the time code memory location. In this example, the contents of the time code memory location would correspond to a period of one hour from 7.00 to 8.00. Later, when each terminal returns the contents of these memory locations to the system organizer, the system organizer determines that the returned information is related to the recording times of the period from 7.00 to 8.00, as opposed to earlier recording times programmed in earlier programming and collection cycles. The time period that an 8-bit time code can display does not fully cover the period that can be displayed by the 16-bit timestamp of the record described earlier, but the ten-day period is considered sufficient to allow everyone; IPPV modules return their tracking information to the system organizer. The bits and resolution of the recording time and the time code, as described, should not be construed as limiting the invention, but rather an example of an arrangement that shows a convenient and practical mode of operation.

FIG. 15 shows a timing chart sample for programming each IPPV module by time of recording and following collecting channel tracking information in the proposed embodiment. As can be seen from this diagram, each section can be used individually, independently. In other words, while the system organizer transfers the recording time to the IPPV module from one section, it can collect from another section of the channel information and time code stored there earlier. In order to fully understand this way of "moving" from one section to another, we present a detailed discussion of Figure 15.

Initially, at start time RT1, it can be assumed that the capture section A was previously programmed by the system organizer to record time RT1. In addition, at RTi, the organizer programs the B and G times of the RTp and RT ^ and the system manager collects the data. At RT, the system organizer issues a global or addressed selection signal that instructs one or more terminators to start returning the contents of its GSL storage locations and time code TC3Ls corresponding to the collection section A. Each terminal then attempts to send tracking information from this collection section A for a specified period of time to the system organizer. In the proposed embodiment, the programming and collection periods are roughly evenly distributed over a one hour cycle during which each collection section is used. If each section is programmed and selected less frequently than once per hour, then the collector period may be reasonably longer. However, the maximum collection time may be arbitrarily placed in one time cycle (one hour) since this length of time should be sufficient to provide a reasonable response rate from most terminals. And therefore, as indicated in the diagram as / RT5 - RTy // 2, the collection time assigned to each section must be only shorter than the one cycle time or / roughly / half the time between the first recording time and time tracking record. In forward time, the period for collecting from the D-segment immediately before RT2 is terminated. this section by transmitting the record time RT4 to all terminals which is stored in the RTSL memory location for recording time (see Fig. 13) for this section in all terminals. At RT2, the programming period for collection section 3 ends, and the system organizer sends a global or addressed sampling signal to one or more terminals in order to start the tracking data collection period for that section. Thereafter, each terminal addressed by the selection channel will temporarily send its discount information for section B / contents of the three memory channels to the channel and back to the system organizer, the bass period reserved - 40 for + u * o The collecting period is the same as described above for the screening section A. During this period, as shown in Fig. 15, the collection sections A, C and D in their respective programming or collection states and their operation are independent of each other. at RT'3, the collection period for section A ends, and the system organizer begins to re-program this section with a new recording time / RT5 /. statistical tracking data back to the system organizer As in the case of a collection sampling signal, the system organizer can When a new recording time is reprogrammed by the collection section, the existing information stored in the channel memory locations and the time code are reset to send the same data to the system organizer again. At RT3, the programming period for collection section C ends, and the system organizer sends the selection signal directly to one or more terminals to start a collection period for that section. The length of time allocated for this collection period is the same as the time described previously for the collection sections A and B.

Immediately before the RT4 time, the collection period for the Ba section ends, the system organizer reprogramming this section with the recording timeΒΤγ. Finally, at the time of R.T5, the collection period ends for the collection section Da. Each terminal starts broadcasting its channel and time code memory locations back to the system organizer. At this point, the complete cycle is completed with all the collection bits and the process begins again.

This way of going from one section to the next has a number of significant advantages over programming of all sections and subsequent collections from all sections.If all sections are programmed before the corresponding sales information has been collected, the time available for collection is shortened for those sections , whose recording time is closer to the end of the programming and collection cycle Dill, when four sections are used and the recording times for each of the sections are 7.10, 7.14, 7.40, and 7.50, later sections have only a minimum collection time If the next programming cycle starts at 8.00, the IPPV modules will only have 10 minutes to send channel information back to the system manager before the program will be re-programmed.

The limitation on the way in which all sections are programmed with subsequent collection includes a situation where there is too little time to re-program certain sections after a previous collection period. Nepř. in the above example, when the initial programming period starts at 7.00 s, then after hours, there may be little time to program all four sections before the first recalculation expires. Therefore, the total time required to program all four segments can take 30 minutes, which can exceed the first two record times. It is possible that some or both of these times of recording have elapsed before the programming of this section, thereby missing the critical time to record the channel being watched.

As already described, FIG. 15 graphically illustrates a step-by-step programming and collection method that eliminates the discussed constraints. By arranging time periods during which each section is alternately programmed and selected, the time for each operation can be equally divided for all four sections. Instead of limiting alternating programming and then collecting from all sections at the same time, each operation can only be performed on one ηβunit, while the other is in the middle of another operation.

Nspř. Referring again to FIG. 15, at time RT4, the system organizer sends a selection command to one or more terminals to start a collection period for section D. Meanwhile, section A is being collected in the second half of its programming period, section B is at the beginning of its period. programming and section C is in the middle of its collection period. Thus, the system organizer needs to perform a Da-out-only selection operation without the operation on the other three sections, which could call the aforementioned timing problems. The system organizer never performs operations on more than one section at a time, resulting in a uniform distribution of time requests during programming periods of collection of all sections. In an alternative embodiment, the system organizer could only include one tracking transaction statistic with one abonant who has agreed to allow monitoring of his tracking habits. In yet another embodiment, the system organizer could insert a tracked transaction statistics tracking only to a particular group of terminals.

The recording time programming instruction, transmitted from the system organization to one or more addressed terminals in the downstream configuration, is not indicated in Fig. 18. In the proposed arrangement, the recording time instruction comprises 96 bits divided into 24 4-bit half-syllables in t 32-bit words. The first 4 half-bits / left / contains values 1, 5, 0 and 0, and the 9th, 10th and 12th half-bikas contain the values? · 6, 5 and 0. The values of these half-syllables uniquely identify the instruction as an instruction recording time programming. The half-syllable residue contains values corresponding to the programmed collection sections and the respective recording times associated with the image collection sections.

As shown in the attached legend in Fig. 18, the programming instruction comprises two types of data: Recording Sets, designated TxO to Tx3 / where x is the collection section designation A to D / and the time mask ACT is received. The recording time for each collection section is composed of 4 half-beacons of 16 bits. The reception time mask contains one half-syllable or 4 bits. The diagram in the figure shows that the recording time for section A, TAO-TA3, occupies: 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th half-syllables from left, time recording for section B, TBO-TB3, occupies 13th, 14th, 15th. and 16 half-syllable, recording time for section C, TCO-TC3, occupies · 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th half-syllables and recording time for section I), TDO-ΤΌ3, occupies 21st, 22nd, 23rd. and the 24th half-syllable.

The description of FIG. 18 shows that the bits of the recording times with the higher bits first. T1, eg TAO contains bits 12 to 15, TA1 contains bits 8 to 11, etc. For the receive time mask, the lowest valid bit / ACTq / collection section A corresponds, while the highest valid bit / ACTj corresponds to the collection section D. 7 of one embodiment of this of the invention, the collection section is programmed more than one day of recording in the same transaction. In another embodiment, especially with the " jogging " programming method described above, only one collection slot is programmed in any given transaction. The structure of the recording time programming instruction allows any of these options to be obtained using the same instruction format. .

As we explained earlier, the ACT Time Accept mask contains - 43 - one half-syllable, or 4 bits of data. Each bit corresponds to one of the four collection sections used in the proposed arrangement. If the value of a particular hit is 1, then it is interpreted by the terminal to indicate that the associated record time is a valid record time and that the terminal is to record the channel being monitored at the appropriate time. On the other hand, if the value of a particular bit is 0, this means for the terminal that the associated recording time is rather blind and does not mean that the channel is recorded next time for the xento segment.

Nspř. suppose that the system organizer wishes to warn all terminals to record the monitored channel at times 8,00 and 8,15. In this case, the system organizer could transfer the recording time of 8.00 and 8.15 at TAO-TA3 and T30-TB3.

The contents of the TCO-TC3 and TDO-TD3 would not be used, but would still be included to keep the programming instruction constant. The AGT mask of the reception time would be set, so that the terminal knew what sections were being programmed. In this case, the system organizer would set ACTq and ACT] _ to 1, and ACT2 and ACT3 to 0. Thus, the terminals would know which of the collection sections would be programmed.

It is important to note that each of the TAO -TA3 to TDO-TD3 recording time points can be used independently of each other. In this example, sections 3 and D could be programmed as easily as sections A and B. In this case, the respective recording time locations corresponding to sections B and D, T30 - TB3 and TDO - TI> 3 would be filled with record entries. and mask bits for sections B and D, ACTj and ACT3? would be set to 1 to indicate that these two recording times are valid. Accordingly, the mask bits for the A and C, ACTq, and ACTg sections would be set to 0 to indicate that the two sections do not contain a valid time record. Values entered at the TAO-3Α3 and TCO -TC3 recording time points can be set to any arbitrary value because the locations are only used as instruction fill. In this way, any number of recording times can be programmed in any combination collection section with one instruction.

FIG. 5 shows a timing diagram of a typical data return sequence.

As mentioned earlier, the total number of terminals is divided into manageable subgroups of approximately the same size. We will simply call them groups. The time each group can return data is called a group period (or simply a period). During IPPY data selection, the system organizer gradually sends data requests from the cable system's main station to all groups. One complete sequence of data return from the groups is called a cyclus. Finally, a sequence of two or more cycles that make up the complete / ty-pickj 'daily / sequence of return data is called a zone. If any ter-minal sends its data during a given zone and receives a confirmation, this terminal will no longer attempt to repeat during that zone. Each request to return data from a group sent by the system organizer contains a group number and instant cycle and zone numbers.

There are two types of automatic responses: global and addressed. Global automatic responses can be further divided into cyclic and contiguous ones. In a cyclic automatic response, the user defines the time interval in which the IPPY modules respond. In a continuous automatic response, the system defines a time interval as 24 hours. Referring to FIG. 5, the time interval for both a cyclic and a continuous automatic response is called a zone. A number is assigned to each zone, so the IPPY module can determine whether it has already responded during a certain zone. Each zone is divided into a series of cycles. Cycle Defined as the time required to respond to the entire number of terminals. Each cycle is assigned a single number / inside the zone, so the IPPY module can determine whether it has already responded during its cycle. In order to increase the likelihood that a certain IPPY module will reach the RF receiver, a minimum number of cycle zones can be defined. This minimum number of cycles in the zone can be varied.

Each cycle is divided into groups. The group is part of the total number of IPPY modules in the system. Each IPPV module is assigned to a subgroup and has a group number assigned. The group number can be assigned to the IPPY module by an external source / user defined / or can be derived from a digital address using a sliding value, as described in more detail below. Regardless of how the assigned group number is taken away, the IPPY module will respond to the global automatic response during the time of its group. Furthermore, each module of IPPY is assigned a variable number of attempts. The number of attempts indicates how many times a given IPPV module will attempt to respond during its group time. - 45 -

The inventive algorithm of the invention will be described first in general and then in more detail.

The response algorithm of the invention is based on an attempt to guarantee a constant number of response attempts. This constant is called response / experiment and is measured in the number of IPPV modules per second. the response rate can be changed. In order to ensure consistency of responses, the number of IPPV modules must be limited. We will call this constant the maximum number of modules in the group. This maximum number of modules in a group can be changed. Based on the maximum number of modules in a group, the number of cycle groups can be calculated as follows:

Number of groups = - c.eJŽ2yf Ρ ° Ζ <&amp; - maximum number in group In a system where group numbers are derived automatically from a numeric address, as follows, the number of groups is rounded to the nearest power of 2.

The mean number of IPPV modules in a group can be calculated as follows:

Wed. number of modules = .c-e.lknV poget - number of groups

We will use this number to calculate the group length in seconds: Group Length = -s · ^ -P-og.et-TC- ResponseThis Cycle Length can be calculated as follows: Cycle Length = Group Length x Number of Groups

The number of cycles in the zone can be calculated as follows:

Number of cycles - end time zone time - start time zone cycle length

If the calculated number of cycles is less than the minimum number of cycles allowed, the number of cycles is set to a minimum. The minimum zone length can then be calculated as follows:

Minimum Zone Length = Number of Cycles x Cycle LengthThis number is matched with the zone length determined by the user in the case of cyclic automatic responses to determine whether a given zone length is quite large.

The values are calculated at the beginning of the auto-answer sequence. The system has added a new zone number and start cycle number. ‘The automatic response control sequence is then ready for SDReservation. - 46 -

The system starts with the first group in the cycle of this zone and continues even when the calculated number of groups in the cycle is reached. The cycle number is then increased and a check is made to determine if the total number of cycles in this zone has been exceeded / ie. whether it? zone end reached /. In the negative case, the group number is reset and the sequence continues.

While a group of IPPV modules responds, the system receives data and inserts it into its data base. After successfully storing the data from one module ΣΡΓΤ to the data base, a confirmation is sent to the 1PPT module.

The data passed from the IPPV module to the system is the checksum of all the data of this case. This checksum is the acknowledgment code and is sent back to the IPPV module in the acknowledgment message. When the acknowledgment code matches the one originally sent with the case data, the data is omitted from the memory of the IPPV module. When the IPPV module does not receive a confirmation "message from the system during a running cycle, the IPPV module will respond again during the next current zone cycle. It will not respond to the next zone when it receives a confirmation message during the current cycle. regardless of whether any case data was sent with the data, an acknowledgment code is transmitted, which causes a reduction in the number of conflicts in each subsequent cycle in the zone.

The addressed automatic response or option is designed to select IPPV data from a particular IPPV module. The information sent to the IPPV module is the same as for the global auto-response with the exception: The numeric address of the selected IPPV module is included, the zone number is set to zero, and the rest of the information / group, cycle, feed rate, etc. is set to the IPPV module is the fastest, although it has no sales report. In the embodiment under consideration, the group size is between 2,500 and 5,000 min. Terminals are added to existing groups until all groups have 5000 terminals. When all groups have 5000 terminals, the number of groups is doubled so that all groups have 2500 terminals again. By way of illustration, assume that the total number of Ps initially contains 5,500 terminals in a single group. As additional terminals are added to the total P, the total count is compared to the upper limit of 5000. When the number reaches 5000 terminals, the number of groups doubles from one to two. Two groups will be created, each with 2500 terminals. When additional terminals are added, the number of terminals in both groups increases. When both groups contain 5,000 terminals, the number of groups is again doubled to a total of four groups, each containing 2,500 terminals.

It has been empirically determined that the optimum rate of attempts for the intended IPPV reverse system is 50,000 attempts / hour. In order to keep this frequency of experiments constant, the non-period of the group must be changed when additional terminals are added to the system. In the given embodiment, both have kept the frequency of attempts constant, the period of one group or the time at which each of the terminals in the group must try to transmit its data must be increased from 3 to 6 minutes.

The above principles can be represented by a simple algorithm. The tentaalgorithm can be used when events are generated automatically by using the bits of the digital address of the terminals. Suppose at the beginning the number of groups is 1 and the total number of terminals is equal to N, then

1 / if G <2 or P / G> 5000G = 2 x G

2 / S = P / G 3 / T = K x S, where S is the number of terminals in one group, T is equal to the period of the group, and K is the constant chosen to maintain the constant of the experiments, which is equal to 3 min./2500terminals.

The group to which a particular terminal is a member is determined using a certain number of bits in the terminal address. Nspř. if the number of groups is eight, the last three bits of the terminal address are used. If the group count is sixteen, the last four bits of the terminal are used. At the beginning of the group period, the system organizer outputs the transaction to the IPPV processor, indicating that a new group period has started. The system organizer p «k sends a global command to the terminals indicating the beginning of a new period of the group e which group number has been selected. The terminals contain a pseudo-random number generator. This generator of pseudo-random numbers generates a number of start times, corresponding number of attempts and number of return frequencies. Uapř. it has liters of experiments and the backward path uses * frequencies. pseudo-random generator generates twelve random numbers. Tetonahodile Numbers They are divided into a whole group period.

Messages from terminals to the end station do not overlap.

However, in a given embodiment, rather than generating random numbers that do not overlap within a given group period, the module will wait until the transmission is completed before the second transmission is initiated if it were to start before the first message was terminated. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is possible to generate a sgde of non-overlapping random readers to determine the transmission time and the invention should not be limited in this respect.

One method, How terminals return data, is one where all terminals send this data at some time during a predetermined callback period. However, this method may result in overloading of the amplifiers and generation of undesirable effects in the forward path if all the terminals are to be transmitted simultaneously. Therefore, it is advantageous to divide the whole number into a series of pins. However, it is possible to use a group equal to the whole number of terminals

The terminals are grouped in one of two ways. In cases where it is important that individual terminals belong to subgroups (e.g. when a retransmission switch is required, each terminal can be assigned to a particular group using a trans action assignment addressed to the group. The cable operator may wish to assign the given terminals to certain groups based on the purchase frequency or other factors associated with a particular group or subgroup of the total. There may be other reasons for this, the cable operators will allocate the members from the total to the given group and the invention should not be limited in any way. In this case, the number of groups is selectable in the range of 2 to 255. Also, the group size may not be the same and the group period may be individually set to allow different group sizes. Since the object of the invention is to avoid over-switching, it is desirable that allocation to groups is not predetermined by the over-switching network. In a more general case, individual allocation to groups is not required. All terminals are governed by a global transaction to use the lowest bits of the unique numeric identification / address / terminal as group numbers. The number of groups in this case is always given by - 49 - power of 2/2, 4, 8, 16 etc./. Since the lower address bits of the terminals in a large number of units are distributed very evenly, the number of terminals in all groups is practically the same and is equal to the total number of terminals divided by the number of groups. Two factors determine the actual number of points.

The first factor is the optimal rate of R that the terminals try to send messages to the IPPV, regardless of the number of times it is repeated. The second factor is the appropriate minimum callback period Pmin. Then it is possible to divide the total number of terminals into max. 2n manageable groups by selecting the largest value of n, for which the number of terminals n «_ · —R x Pnun 2n applies.

Power 2, ie, n, determined by this equation, then specifies the number of lower bi-tons that the terminal must use to determine the group of which it is a member. Carp. if n = 4, then there are 16 groups and each of the terminals uses the lowest 4 bitj’1 of their address as the group number.

The optimal R-rate of the terminal experiments used in the upper equation is expressed simply as the mean number of terminals per unit time. However, each terminal has an adjustable number of repetitions, so the actual rate of message attempts is equal to the number of terminals in the group times the number of transmissions / repetitions that each unit divides by the length of the group period. Thus, during the data return period, the median frequency and the length of the carried out zorra transmissions, the message density also determines the probability of collision for any given transmission. Assuming that the mean transmission length is relatively strong, the progeny with which the terminals try to send back data is a fundamental influence that determines the likelihood of collision and vice versa the permeability of the pikes.

The low frequency of message attempts results in a low probability of collision, while a higher frequency of message attempts leads to a correspondingly higher probability of collision for any message. The high percentages of low rates of attempts / or low percentages of success at high attempts / rates may, however, result in poor overall throughput. Therefore, the probability of success for any message is the frequency of the terminal's attempts to measure the true pro-cent success. Carp. when 1000 terminals attempt to return data within a one-minute period and the probability that any message will be affected by a collision is 20%, then the actual percentage of success will be 1000 terminal x / 100 - 20 /% / min. = 800 terminals / min.

The numerically high success rate of terminals is not the ultimate measure of IPPV throughput unless nearly 100% success is achieved. Since the return data represents a profit for the cable operator, all terminals must return the stored data. A 100% success rate may require two or more peers in the statistical data return approach. To continue with the example, assume that the group has the indicated percentage of success during the first data return cycle. 800 terminals / min. can be highly desirable, but it is not acceptable to leave 20% of the group without sending a message. During the next data back cycle, 800 successful terminals should receive confirmation of received da-techs. As mentioned above, terminals that receive confirmation corresponding exactly to the data stored in the secure memory will not be re-addressed until the beginning of the new zone. Therefore, only 200 terminals that were unsuccessful in the first cycle will attempt to return data. The result is a much lower chance of collision during the second cycle. To illustrate, we will assume that the probability that a woman will be affected by the collision is 1%. During this one-minute period, 200 x / 100 - l /% = 198 terminals will be successful. By combining two cycles, the effective percentage of performance will be: / 800 + 198 / terminals / 2 min. or 499 terminals / min. This frequency is achieved with nearly 100% of the message-sending terminals and is therefore a very good measure of the actual system throughput. The "optimal" frequency of the experiments is thus defined as the number of experiments that provides a substantially 100% effective success rate for a given number of terminals in the shortest time interval.

The invention has used a model-based simulation method for returning IPPV data to determine the optimal frequency of experiments. However, it should be noted that while the choice of optimal frequency attempts to affect system performance, it is not critical to the function of the invention.

The above description and calculations assume that data return is achieved for the return of IPPV case data from IPPV modules. However, the RF retrofitting system of the present invention can be used in systems where a series of remote units or terminals attempts to place the stored data at a central location. Invalidation, energy management, home purchase and other service requirements are generally the IPPV service. However, some efficiency gains can be achieved by combining the backward data of these additional services with the IPPV service transactions, although the use of differently addressed or global ones may be appropriate for different transactions, especially real-time requests such as bidirectional voice / telephone / transmission. commands and answers. For a number of reasons, such as the signal-to-noise ratio and the interference requirements of adjacent channels, it is necessary that the output level of the IPPV transmitter data for the return channel be set near optimum. Low installation costs, ease of maintenance, repeatability and reliability are also highly desirable so that the output level setting is as automatic as possible. A method for automatically calibrating a transmitter level is described in detail in the associated Pat. U.S. Application Serial No. 07 / 562,675, filed Aug. 3, 1990, entitled " Reverse RF Transmission Method for Cable Television ", which is hereby incorporated by reference, for a full description of procedures and devices for transmitting between the processor and the system organizer. IPPV is included in the United States Patent Application Serial No. 07 / 562,675 of Aug. 3, 1990 entitled " Radio Frequency Feedback Method for Cable TV ", which is hereby incorporated by reference. as a modulation modulation, transmits "1" as a signal transition in the middle of a bit interval. "0" does not intersect unless another "0" is followed, in which case the end of the bit interval is generated. No. 07 / 562,675 of Aug. 3, 1990, entitled "Method of Reverse RF Transmission for Cable TV" here we refer to.

Data transfer sequence between IPPV module and IPPV processor. Each time the data is transmitted, the IPPV module performs the following sequence: A. It starts to switch the transmission of the transmitted data at a rate of 10 kl * z. This is not a data filter. S. Sets the gain to minimum. 0. Turns off the + 5 V voltage to the RF circuits. - 52 - f * z / r- * · f ry D. Delays about ns 1 ms to stabilize + 5V. 2. Sets the correct phase locked loop frequency / from NVIJ / 7 pen. Delays about 20 ms to hold the phase locked G. Key in the crosstalk circuit H. Interrupts about 1 ms to stabilize end output stage I. correct gain / read from NVM / J. Sends data.

When the transmission is complete, the IPPV module performs the following sequence: A. Generates an Ililler code error in the transmitted transfer termination data (for the receiver). B. Retrieves the gain to a minimum. C. Key out the crosstalk circuit. D. Delays about 1 ms to prevent frequency slippage. . Turns off the switched-off voltage + 5 V.

These sequences are detailed in Figure 15-8 using these definitions:

Switched-off voltage + 5 V to loop phase suspension, data input

Delay to catch the phase locked loop

Data filter charging time

Keying the circuit against crosstalk amplification

tone

^ LK

tCHG

* AB

tPXT

tRD topp

Approach to gain

Gain download

Drain gain + 5 V

The data transmission sequence in said step J can be further decomposed by its components. Fig. 16 is a graphical representation of a program statistics response packet sample and tracking according to the proposed arrangement. The complete packet in this figure represents a typical packet transmitted from the IPPV processor to the system organizer. The contents of this pake include responding with program statistics and monitoring the received terminal with attached header and conclusion information. Now we will describe the packet sample folders:

Referring to FIG. 16, the column is at the far left, denoted "Byte" / syllable / respective number / numbers / syllables for each location in the page. The second column, labeled "Oescription" contains a description of each location. The third column, labeled "Value", contains a range of eigenvalues in either hexadecimal / h / or decimal / no / format for each individual location. Finally, the last column, labeled "Comments", contains additional descriptive notes about its own values for each location. In addition, the different response packet components graphically illustrate when a particular part has been added.

The first left-hand group of parts, labeled "RF-IPPV Pro- cessor Qriginate" generated in the IPPV processor and corresponding to the 0 to 17 syllables, contains an IPPV-generated header regarding the type of data contained in the packet. the first part for syllables 1 and 2, the description means the type of response, As the column "Value", the value of this space for the response packet is 0 for programs and tracking. For other types of responses, such as calibration and frequency selection, this value will be different.

The next part contains syllables 2 and 3 and corresponds to the state of the receiver. The value of this place corresponds to the state of the TPPV processor receiver. In the proposed arrangement, only 4 hits of this two-symmetric part are used. Bit 0 indicates the on state, bit 1 indicates the set request, bit 2 indicates the local block, and bit 3 indicates the error state.

The syllables 4 to 7 contain a "Llesss Pemaining Count" (corresponding to the number of messages to be sent to the IPPV processor). In the present invention, "message" refers to a response with program statistics and tracking, but as explained earlier, it may also relate to other message types that the IPPV processor sends to the system organizer. once, it is limited, so the value of this section indicates the total number of messages waiting to be posted, including messages / responses / instant messages. In the proposed arrangement, the value of this portion may be in the range of 0 to 65,535.

The syllables 8-11 contain a "Unicjuo Uessage Tount", which indicates the number of single or unrepresented zoravs received by the IPPV processor from a plurality of terminals. As explained above, given a somewhat noisy reverse environment of the physical wired network, each terminal sends a response to the program's tracking programs multiple times over different times. This necessitates redundancy of the responses received by the IPPV processor, which excludes duplicated messages, and therefore, in these syllables, the system organizer is given an indication of the number of Single messages received so far. 0 to 65,535.

If we move on to the next section in this group, the syllables 12 and 13 contain a "Packet Count" that corresponds to the number of messages / responses / in the packet and tracking packet. the syllables 14 to 17 correspond to the length of the packet This value indicates the total number of syllables in the packet and in the proposed arrangement can be in the range of 0 to 65,535.

Another group of response packet response parts with the tracking statistics is labeled " RF-STT Originated " and includes a portion of a packet that relates to information collected from one or more terminals. Most of this information was taken literally from the tracking statistics sent from that terminal to the IPPV processor, which is graphically depicted in Figure 17. The content of this response reflects the response content sent back by the terminal, and we will discuss the elements of this response in the following with both Figures 20 and 21.

It responds with program statistics and the tracking sent from the terminal to the LPPV processor contains 4 initialization information syllables.

As can be seen from FIG. 17, the syllables 1 to 3 include an introductory group indicating that the following syllables to be transmitted contain an answer with program statistics and tracking. The introductory group consists of a sequence of three syllables equal to AA (hex). After sending the three syllables, a "Message Start" (SOM / Straight AB / Sixteen) is sent. Then, the remaining syllables of the message are broadcast, as described in the case of the program.

The syllables 1 and 2, see Figure 16, correspond to the "Level Rating", which indicates the power level of the response received by the IPPV from the terminal. Because this measurement is done by the IPPV processor, it is the only component of this part of the packet that is not transmitted by the terminal, but instead is added by the IPPV processor during transmission to the system organizer. This value is then used in the sys- ternal organizer to recalibrate the output level of the terminal, if needed. In the proposed arrangement, the value of this component may range from 0 to 2, where 0 indicates a too high level, 1 indicates a satisfactory level, and 2 indicates a too low level. Recalibration is performed when the level is too high or too low.

The syllables 2 and 3, denoted "Reply Length" in FIG. 16, correspond to the length of the next syllable message except the previous level size value. In the original response transmitted from the terminal indicated in Fig. 17, this element is placed in syllable 5. In the proposed arrangement, the value of this component can range from 0 to 255.

The other response component contains syllables 4 and 5 designated "Message Type" in Figure 16. In the original response transmitted from the terminal, as shown in Figure 17, this element is located in Table 6. The value of this component indicates whether the terminal is operating in band or out of band as previously described This value is transmitted from the terminal to the IPPV processor If the value of this component is equal to 4, it indicates activity out of band if it is 14/16 indicates in-band activity.

The syllables 6-13 correspond to the terminal address in FIG. In the original response transmitted from the terminal, as indicated in Fig. 17, this element is located in syllables 7-10. Each terminal is assigned a unique address that returns to the processor IPPV with a response with the program statistics and tracking and this identifier is passed to the system organizer.

Another program statistic and tracking response section shown in FIG. 16 by syllables 14-29 includes a custom tracking that has been transmitted from the terminal back to the original IPPVV processor response from the terminal, as indicated in FIG. Figures 11 to 18. In the proposed arrangement, according to Figures 16 and 21, four tracking sections A to D are used and each has the ability to report the tracked track and tracking time.

In the picture, the channel being watched is displayed with "View Channel n" / "Watch channel n" and the time when the channel was tracked with "Time"

Gode n "/ time code n /, where n is the designation of section A to D * Values in the range 0 - 128 and 255, - 56 - are valid for the channel being tracked, where O is no track of any channel, 1 - 128 indicates the channel being monitored and 255 means that this section has already been reported.

The time code value must be in the range 0 - 255, where this value corresponds to a time with a lower resolution than the recording time originally programmed for that section. In the embodiment of the invention, using the method of transitioning programming and collecting from different collection slots, as we have described earlier, only one section at a time is transferred back to the IPPV processor, so that all "View Channel n" locations will be 255 except of the section in question, which will either be 0 / not followed by any channel / or between 1 and 128 for a particular channel number.

The remaining 4 syllables in this section, that is, the syllables 30-33 designated in FIG. 16 as "Security Kibble" and "Auth Channel Checksum" and "AUTH" and "EVENT" on Fig. 17 corresponds to special security and authorization information transmitted by the IPPV processor to the system organizer to ensure system integrity and to ensure that only those channels allowed for monitoring by the terminal are actually monitored.

Another program statistics and tracking packet section contains information regarding information sent back from the IPPV doprocessor terminal. In particular, the present invention is directed to trackback retrospectives, but since this overall system can also be used to monitor events in each of the terminals, a portion of the packet is included for completeness. 16 and 21, it is possible to track and report more than one event in a single packet, with each event occupying 10 syllables. In Fig. 16, event 1 includes syllables 0 to 9, and other events reported inside the packet contain additional blocks after. 10 syllables. In the original response transmitted from the terminal to the IPPV processor, each event represents 5 syllables, with the first event displayed by syllables 21-25.

The next section of the packet, designated "Peply Checksum ZLSBfirst" in Figure 16, is the lowest bit first / and 17 "CHECK" corresponds to the additional checksum, generated by the computer and used as error detection means Dro. For the checksum, two syllables are used in the previous response, returned in the packet and sent along with the packet. The checksum is generated by adding each transmitted: character to the lowest valid checksum. The result is then rotated one hit to the left. The checksum is initially set to 0. Each additional character in addition to the checksum is included in the checksum.

Another packet section labeled "Packet Checksum" corresponds to the additional checksum generated by the IPPV processor and used as a means of error detection. This checksum is generated exactly as described above except that all the characters of the total transmitted packet are added, not just the terminal response.

Finally, a CR / carriage return / to mark the end of the packet is transferred from the IPPV to the system organizer. In this instant, the system organizer checks all checksums to check for errors during transmission. If errors are detected, a repeat command is sent to the IPPV processor and repeats the entire transfer sequence.

We have described preferred embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but is limited by the appended claims.

Claims (33)

804-92 What is claimed is: 1. A bidirectional cable television system comprising a system organizer for controlling a plurality of remote terminals via a cable television distribution system and using a method of generating and collecting tracking statistics that includes at least one data defining a monitored channel in one or more terminals, characterized by This method for generating and collecting statistics consists of transmitting data representing recording times from the system organizer (310) to one or more remote terminals (120, 315), these times indicating the times at which each from these terminals (120, 315) to store statistical data on tracking, / b / storing these recording times into one of a plurality of memory record locations (503) at these remote terminals (120, 315), / c / comparing the content of all of these locations for recording times in memory / 503 / with real time, gener by the crystal clock (501) located at each of these remote terminals (120, 315), / d / generate monitoring statistics, (e) store statistical tracking data in all these remote terminals (120, 315) to locations for a memory channel designation (503) when the memory recording time location (503) matches the real time. 2. A two-way cable television system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking statistics generated in step Vd correspond to television status data maintained at each of said remote terminals (120, 315). 3. A two-way cable television system according to claim 1, wherein the tracking statistics, generated by step (d), correspond to viewer profile data that has been input by user input (440) connected to each of said remote terminals (120, 315). /. 4. A two-way cable television system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission in step (a) is provided globally to all remote terminals (120, 315). 5. A two-way cable television system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission in step (a) is addressed to a particular group of remote terminals (120, 315). 6. A two-way cable television system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission in step (a) is addressed to a particular remote terminal (120, 315). 7. A bi-directional kebel television system according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises a time code storing a time code corresponding to the real time code location in memory when the content of the time code is stored. memory recording time / 503 / matches real time. 8. A two-way cable television system according to claim 7, wherein said causing further comprises a step / g / transmitting the content of the channel designation location in memory (503) and a memory time code location (503) from all remote ter- minals. minals (120, 315) to the system organizer (310) when the memory location of the time record in memory (503) matches the real time. 9. A two-way cable television system according to claim 7, wherein said method comprises the step of (g) transmitting a channel designation content location and a memory location code (503) from all remote terminals (120). , 315 / to the system organizer (310) in response to the system organizer selection signal (310). 10. A two-way cable television system according to claim 7, characterized in that one location for the memory sss in memory (503) from said one location for marking the channel in memory (503) and one location for the time code in memory (503). /. - 60 - 11. A two-way cable television system according to claim 10, wherein the memory time code location (503) includes a time code having a resolution of at least equal to a minimum time period in which all of the recording time in the memory / 503 is used. /. 12. A two-way cable television system according to claim 10, wherein four locations for recording time, four locations for channel designation and four locations for time code are used in the memory (503). 13. A two-way cable television system according to claim 12, wherein the memory time recording location stores a recording time of at least 16 bits with a resolution that uniquely specifies a maximum of one minute. 14. A two-way cable television system according to claim 12, wherein the memory time code location (505) stores a time code comprising at least 8 bits with a resolution that uniquely specifies a maximum of one hour. 15. A two-way cable television system according to claim 9, wherein said method further comprises repeating steps (a) to (g) for another time recording location (503). 16. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 15, wherein step (h) is performed for a second location for a memory recording time (503) before a 3e previous year / a / a / g / for a first recording time location. in memory / 503 / completed. 17. A two-way cable television system, comprising a device for tracking channel tracking information in remote terminals, characterized in that the device includes / a / system organizer (310) for calling the remote terminal's programming function (120, 315). / to record channel tracking information at a particular recording time a / b / transmission device (313, 314) 'for transmission to one or more recording time terminals relating to a particular time at which the remote terminal / 120 (315) is to store tracking statistics data related to at least one channel being watched. 18. A two-way cable television system according to claim 17, wherein the transmission device (313, 314) in step (b) transmits globally to the far remote terminals (120, 315). 19. A two-way cable television system according to claim 17, wherein the transmission device (313, 314) in step (b) transmits to a particular group of remote terminals (120, 315). 20. A two-way cable television system according to claim 17, wherein the transmission device (313, 314) in step (b) transmits to a certain remote channel A20,315. 21. A two-way cable television system according to claim 17 further comprising (c) a receiver (322) for receiving channel monitoring information from one or more remote terminals (120, 315). 22. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 17, further comprising (e) a transmission device (313, 314) for transmitting to one or more address selection remote terminals (120, 315), which commands this one or more remote terminals (120,315) to send channel monitoring information to the system organizer (310) and / d / receiver (322) to receive channel monitoring information from one or more remote terminals (120, 315) /. - 62 - 23. A two-way cable television system according to claim 21, comprising: (d) a processor (310) for collecting and comparing received channel tracking information. 24. A two-way cable television system equipped with remote terminals, characterized in that the terminals comprise / a / receiver / 430 / data for receiving one or more recording times relating to certain times when it is remote the terminal (120, 315) to store the channel name that has just been tracked / b / a plurality of recording time locations in memory (503) for storing one or more recording times, (c) a comparison device (504) for comparing the content of these locations for the time of day - memory in memory (503) with real time generated clock (501) located in remote terminal (120, 315), / d / device (504) for generating tracking statistics data corresponding to the channel being tracked, / e / one or more channel locations in the monitoring data storage memory 503 in the remote terminal 120, 315 / when the time recording location of the memory / 503 / matches the real time. 25. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 24, wherein the tracking statistics generated in step (d) correspond to the television status information maintained at each of the remote terminals (120, 315). . 26. A two-way cable television system according to claim 24, wherein the tracking statistics generated in step (d) correspond to viewer profile data that has been inputted by an external user input (440) to each of the remote viewers. terminals (120, 315). 27. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 24, comprising one or more time code locations in a time code store (503) corresponding to real time if the time recording location in memory / 503 / matches real time. - 63 - 28. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 27, further comprising (g) an end amplifier (509) for transmitting the content of channel designation locations in memory (503) and memory code time locations. (503) from the remote terminal (120, 315) to the system organizer (310) when the memory recording time location (503) matches the real time. 29. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 27, comprising / g / terminal amplifier (509) for transmitting the content of the channel identification points in memory (503) and memory time code locations (503) from remote to the system organizer (310) as the addressed addressing option signal from the system organizer (310). 30. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 29, characterized in that in the memory (503), one recording location corresponds to one channel designation location and one time code location. 31. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 30, wherein the memory time code location stores a time code at least equal to a minimum time period in which all memory recording time locations are used. 32. A two-way cable television system according to claim 30, wherein four locations for recording time, four locations for channel designation and four locations for time code are used in the memory (503). 33. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 32, wherein the recording time locations in the memory store a recording time of at least 16 bits of resolution that uniquely determines a maximum of one minute. 34. A bidirectional cable television system according to claim 32, wherein the time code locations in memory store a time code consisting of at least 8 bits with a resolution that uniquely determines a maximum of one hour period.