초록 ▼

A cable-ready television set having a controller with first and second sets of leads for scanning a plurality of push-button switches and, in response to actuation of the switches, entering into a tuner memory designations defining which channels may be selected for viewing and which channels may no

A cable-ready television set having a controller with first and second sets of leads for scanning a plurality of push-button switches and, in response to actuation of the switches, entering into a tuner memory designations defining which channels may be selected for viewing and which channels may not be selected, is modified by disconnecting the switches and connecting the first and second sets of leads to a first connector accessible from the exterior of the set. A hand-held programming module includes a plurality of programming switches connected to a second connector so that each programming switch is connected between one lead in each of the first and second sets of leads when the connectors are mated. The hand-held module includes a non-volatile memory for storing tier data and a microprocessor responsive to actuation of tier selection switches on the module for applying the tier data to the programming switches. Actuation of the programming switches causes the tuner controller to load the tuner memory with designations indicating which channels may or may not be viewed.

대표청구항 ▼

A programming system for limiting access to channels which may be viewed on a television receiver, said television receiver having therein a tuner controller, a tuner memory and first and second sets of leads, the tuner controller producing output signals on said first set of leads for scanning prog

A programming system for limiting access to channels which may be viewed on a television receiver, said television receiver having therein a tuner controller, a tuner memory and first and second sets of leads, the tuner controller producing output signals on said first set of leads for scanning programming switches and having inputs connected to said second set of leads and responsive to scanning signals passing through said switches for accessing said tuner memory, said first and second sets of leads being connected to a first connector accessible from the exterior of said television receiver; a programming module having therein a microprocessor, a non-volatile memory for storing tier data, and a plurality of programming switches, said programming module having thereon a plurality of tier selection switches, said microprocessor being responsive to actuation of one of said tier selection switches for sequentially accessing said non-volatile memory and reading therefrom tier data for selectively actuating said programming switches to transmit channel numbers to said controller; and cable means connected to said programming switches and terminating at a second connector matable with said first connector whereby each of said programming switches is connected between a lead of said first set and a lead of said second set when said connectors are mated.