Apparatus and process for use at a cable television system input end that stores data and receives communications containing requests from individual subscribers on the cable television system

摘要

Invention Patents "APPLIANCE AND PROCESS FOR USE IN AN EXTREME INPUT OF CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM THAT STORES DATA AND RECEIVES COMMUNICATIONS CONTAINING REQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBERS IN THE CABLE TELEVISION SYSTEM". A new network administrator (214) that supervises and manages cable entry end components (208) and TV-top terminals (220) in a television distribution system (200) is described. The invention coordinates the reception of programming and control signals at an input end (208), storing signals for intelligent selection and distribution. The invention uses a receiver (254), a workstation (256), a program control information processing component (258), a network management CPU (260), databases (262), software control (264) and an instruction memory (266). The invention uses these components to administer input end components (208), such as signal reception equipment (234), an authorization component (236), an archive server (215), MPEG decoders (250), buffers (252) and modulators (238). The invention is particularly useful in the process of forward-facing subscriber communications (246). The invention accommodates several system services, including demand for near video (NVOD), virtual video on demand (VVOD), video on demand (VOD), interactive program services, program suggestion feature, program targeting, standard menus and and data rollover and text overlay.