Importance

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Abstract

Remote control of subscriber access to premium programs on a cable television system or the like is provided. A signal path carriers program signals received from a cable television system. A switchable port coupled to the signal path is identified by a logical channel number. First data are received and stored from the cable television system assigning a service code to the logical channel. Second data are received and stored from the cable television system identifying authorized service codes. The assigned logical channel service code is periodically compared to the stored authorized service codes to determine if the logical channel is authorized. The port is switched to provide or deny access to a program signal carried on the signal path, depending on whether the service code assigned to the logical channel identifying the port is authorized. A plurality of ports can be provided to enable subscriber access to different premium services. Each port can couple a trap to the signal path, alternately bypass the trap, or alternately open the signal path to disconnect a subscriber.

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First Claim