Importance

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Abstract

A cable television system provides television signals in multiple predefined television signal formats. Each television has a multi-standard receiver for receiving television signals in those predefined television signal formats. Hidden behind each television, or elsewhere out of view of the user, is a converter coupling the respective television to transmission cable. The only connection from the converter to the television is a cable connected to the television's cable or antenna input port. Each television includes a sensor for receiving wireless command signals. The television's control circuitry ingores wireless command signals not in a first defined set. The converter includes a sensor for receiving a second defined set of wireless command signals. The converter's sensor is preferably located near or on the housing of the television. The converter's controller ignores wireless command signals not in the second defined set. The converter's controller responds to wireless channel selection commands by tuning the frequency converter to a respective television channel and/or by transmitting pay-per-view requests to the controller at the head end of the system. A remote controller signal transmitter includes a memory table that stores data representing the commands and signal formats to use when transmitting wireless commands. Some user commands are transmitted as wireless commands to the television, other user commands are transmitted as wireless commands to the converter and at least one user command is transmitted as wireless commands to both the television and the converter.

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First Claim