Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method thereof for communicating a scramble key (for descrambling scrambled digital signals) and service information (used in an electronic programming guide) to an intelligent transceiver (e.g., a set-top box) using a bi-directional digital broadcast system. The intelligent transceiver includes an in-band tuner adapted to receive from the digital broadcast system in-band digital signals comprising audio content and video content. The intelligent transceiver also includes a second tuner adapted to send and receive a scramble key over the World Wide Web via a cable modem. In one embodiment, the in-band digital signals received by the in-band tuner also contain service information. In another embodiment, the digital signals received by the second tuner via the cable modem also contain service information. Thus, the scramble key is sent over the World Wide Web and is received by the intelligent transceiver using a cable modem. The service information is sent either with the in-band signal or over the World Wide Web, and is received via the in-band tuner or the cable modem, respectively. Therefore, the broadcast system does not need to use out-of-band signals. Accordingly, the intelligent transceiver does not require an out-of-band tuner and demodulator to receive the scramble key and service information, and so these devices can be omitted from the intelligent transceiver, thereby simplifying the transceiver and reducing costs.

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First Claim