Addressable Systems
Encyclopedia
Addressability is the ability of a digital
device to individually respond to a message sent to many similar devices. Examples include pager
s, mobile phone
s, and set-top box
es for pay TV
. Computer network
s are also addressable, such as via the MAC address
on Ethernet
network card
s, and similar networking protocols like Bluetooth
. This allows data
to be sent in cases where it is impractical (or impossible, such as with wireless
devices) to control exactly where or to which devices the message is physically sent.
In the case of simple hardware
devices like the pager, the address is simply the electronic serial number
(and later IMEI/MEID
) in its firmware
, or physically manufactured into its circuitry. In the case of GSM mobile phones, it also includes the subscriber identity module
, which is also present as a smart card
on satellite TV receiver
s, or a different PCMCIA CableCARD
for cable TV. Addressing and encryption
are used together for conditional access
to different TV channel bundles which a pay-TV customer has or has not paid
for.
Addressing is also done in software at higher levels such as IP address
es, which can be dynamically allocated. Even standalone
devices are now addressable, such as to enforce revocation lists for digital restrictions, or to use the former DIVX
DVD
video rentals (although the latter only used its identity to "phone home" for billing
purposes).
Communication Systems are generally known. Addressability is typically regarded as the administration and control of addressable devices, known generically as Provisioning
or Activation in the parlance of Telecommunications Industry, but specifically speaking to authorization
of a particular service. Within the field of cable television or CATV, for example, an Addressability System or Addressable System may enable and control the distribution of cable services, creating a conditional access system (CAS), and allow the cable system to control and administer which cable products a customer may purchase and/or view. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6070001.html
A typical cable communications system includes several basic components such as a service provider
, a Cable television headend
, a Business Support Systems
(BSS), an Operations Support System
(OSS), a controller
, and a customer's Set-top box
(STB), also known as a Cable Converter Box
, or simply a converter, or more correctly converter/descramblerhttp://www.high-techproductions.com/descramblers.htm. The Set-Top box is a key component in Addressability Systems it is an Integrated receiver/decoder
(IRD). Normally, the Headend receives a signal sent by a service provider, which may send the signal, for example, via an uplink
(UL) to a satellite and a downlink (DL) from the satellite
to the Headend. At the Headend, the signal may be manipulated, for example, by being scrambled, encrypted and having authorization codes attached thereto by a Scrambler
. The billing system or BSS typically manages products and services, customers and addressable equipment such as the converters and controllers. A customer's request for a certain service or product is normally forwarded to the BSS. The billing system or BSS sends instructions to the controller, which configures the converter in accordance with the instructions. The controller also communicates with the headend to receive the proper authorization information needed for the particular configuration. This information is sent to the converter. The converter also receives the signal and compares information on the signal to corresponding authorization from the controller. Based on the comparison, the customer's STB may or may not be able to descramble the signal and view the content or Television Program.
The addressability system may be viewed as the interface between the billing system or BSS/OSS and the controller. Known addressability systems receive information from the billing system and send it to the appropriate controller to enable the controller to properly configure the converter. A conventional addressability systems may include an addressability server linked to the billing system. The addressability server receives information from the billing system and passes it to controller processors, which forward the information to the appropriate controller. Known systems are hardware driven and the packaging of enabling information is integrated with the billing system. The billing system gathers data corresponding to the customer and request, and packages the data into a format for a particular type of controller. Different types of controllers include, for example, controllers manufactured by General Instrument
(GI), Motorola
, Jerrold, Scientific Atlanta http://cisco.com/en/US/products/ps8711/index.html, Zenith, Tocom and Oak.
One problem with conventional addressability systems is that the information received by the addressability server has already been packaged for a specific controller. Controllers are limited in the number of hardware links they can support. Because packaged information received by the addressability server is controller specific, and due to hardware limitations, a dedicated link is required between the addressability server and the controller. Since the number of links for a controller are limited, the addressability system can only support a limited number of controller types. The limit on the supportable controller
links, together with the hardware limitations, also results in limits on the number of priority levels which can be accepted by a given controller. Thus, prior addressability systems are limited in their hardware and software scalability.
These problems are examples of difficulties encountered by the prior art. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that other problems exist with known addressability systems.
Related technologies:
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
device to individually respond to a message sent to many similar devices. Examples include pager
Pager
A pager is a simple personal telecommunications device for short messages. A one-way numeric pager can only receive a message consisting of a few digits, typically a phone number that the user is then requested to call...
s, mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s, and set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
es for pay TV
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
. Computer network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
s are also addressable, such as via the MAC address
MAC address
A Media Access Control address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. MAC addresses are used for numerous network technologies and most IEEE 802 network technologies, including Ethernet...
on Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
network card
Network card
A network interface controller is a computer hardware component that connects a computer to a computer network....
s, and similar networking protocols like Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
. This allows data
Data
The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...
to be sent in cases where it is impractical (or impossible, such as with wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
devices) to control exactly where or to which devices the message is physically sent.
In the case of simple hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
devices like the pager, the address is simply the electronic serial number
Electronic Serial Number
Electronic serial numbers were created by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to uniquely identify mobile devices, from the days of AMPS in the United States from the early 1980s. The administrative role was taken over by the Telecommunications Industry Association in 1997 and is still...
(and later IMEI/MEID
MEID
A mobile equipment identifier is a globally unique number identifying a physical piece of CDMA mobile station equipment. The number format is defined by the but in practical terms it can be seen as an IMEI but with hexadecimal digits....
) in its firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
, or physically manufactured into its circuitry. In the case of GSM mobile phones, it also includes the subscriber identity module
Subscriber Identity Module
A subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module is an integrated circuit that securely stores the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscriber on mobile telephony devices .A SIM is held on a removable SIM card, which...
, which is also present as a smart card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
on satellite TV receiver
Integrated receiver/decoder
An integrated receiver/decoder is an electronic device used to pick-up a radio-frequency signal and convert digital information transmitted in it.-Consumer IRDs:...
s, or a different PCMCIA CableCARD
CableCARD
CableCARD is a special-use PCMCIA card that allows consumers in the United States to view and record digital cable television channels on digital video recorders, personal computers and television sets without the use of other equipment such as a set top box provided by a cable television company...
for cable TV. Addressing and encryption
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
are used together for conditional access
Conditional access
Conditional Access is the protection of content by requiring certain criteria to be met before granting access to this content...
to different TV channel bundles which a pay-TV customer has or has not paid
Paid
Paid may refer to several films:*Paid , starring Joan Crawford*Paid , a Dutch film...
for.
Addressing is also done in software at higher levels such as IP address
IP address
An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...
es, which can be dynamically allocated. Even standalone
Standalone
A standalone entity is something that has no dependencies; it can "stand alone". Standalone may also refer to the following topics:*Standalone software*the standalone attribute in XML*a standalone expansion pack for games...
devices are now addressable, such as to enforce revocation lists for digital restrictions, or to use the former DIVX
DIVX
DIVX was an unsuccessful attempt by Circuit City and the entertainment law firm Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca and Fischer to create an alternative to video rental in the United States.-Format:...
DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
video rentals (although the latter only used its identity to "phone home" for billing
Invoice
An invoice or bill is a commercial document issued by a seller to the buyer, indicating the products, quantities, and agreed prices for products or services the seller has provided the buyer. An invoice indicates the buyer must pay the seller, according to the payment terms...
purposes).
Cable TV
Addressable Systems or Addressability for use in Cable TelevisionCable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
Communication Systems are generally known. Addressability is typically regarded as the administration and control of addressable devices, known generically as Provisioning
Provisioning
In telecommunication, provisioning is the process of preparing and equipping a network to allow it to provide services to its users. In NS/EP telecommunications services, "provisioning" equates to "initiation" and includes altering the state of an existing priority service or capability.In a...
or Activation in the parlance of Telecommunications Industry, but specifically speaking to authorization
Authorization
Authorization is the function of specifying access rights to resources, which is related to information security and computer security in general and to access control in particular. More formally, "to authorize" is to define access policy...
of a particular service. Within the field of cable television or CATV, for example, an Addressability System or Addressable System may enable and control the distribution of cable services, creating a conditional access system (CAS), and allow the cable system to control and administer which cable products a customer may purchase and/or view. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6070001.html
A typical cable communications system includes several basic components such as a service provider
Service provider
A service provider is an entity that provides services to other entities. Usually, this refers to a business that provides subscription or web service to other businesses or individuals. Examples of these services include Internet access, Mobile phone operators, and web application hosting...
, a Cable television headend
Cable television headend
A cable television headend is a master facility for receiving television signals for processing and distribution over a cable television system. The headend facility is normally unstaffed and surrounded by some type of security fencing and is typically a building or large shed housing electronic...
, a Business Support Systems
Business Support Systems
Business support systems are the components that a telephone operator or telco uses to run its business operations towards customer. BSS and OSS platforms are linked in the need to support various end to end services...
(BSS), an Operations Support System
Operations support system
Operations support systems are computer systems used by telecommunications service providers. The term OSS most frequently describes "network systems" dealing with the telecom network itself, supporting processes such as maintaining network inventory, provisioning services, configuring network...
(OSS), a controller
Controller (control theory)
In control theory, a controller is a device which monitors and affects the operational conditions of a given dynamical system. The operational conditions are typically referred to as output variables of the system which can be affected by adjusting certain input variables...
, and a customer's Set-top box
Set-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
(STB), also known as a Cable Converter Box
Cable converter box
A cable converter box or television converter box is an electronic tuning device that transposes/converts any of the available channels from a cable television service to an analog RF signal on a single channel, usually VHF channel 3 or 4. The device allows a television set that is not “cable...
, or simply a converter, or more correctly converter/descramblerhttp://www.high-techproductions.com/descramblers.htm. The Set-Top box is a key component in Addressability Systems it is an Integrated receiver/decoder
Integrated receiver/decoder
An integrated receiver/decoder is an electronic device used to pick-up a radio-frequency signal and convert digital information transmitted in it.-Consumer IRDs:...
(IRD). Normally, the Headend receives a signal sent by a service provider, which may send the signal, for example, via an uplink
Uplink
A telecommunications link is generally one of several types of information transmission paths such as those provided by communication satellites to connect two points on earth.-Uplink:...
(UL) to a satellite and a downlink (DL) from the satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
to the Headend. At the Headend, the signal may be manipulated, for example, by being scrambled, encrypted and having authorization codes attached thereto by a Scrambler
Scrambler
In telecommunications, a scrambler is a device that transposes or inverts signals or otherwise encodes a message at the transmitter to make the message unintelligible at a receiver not equipped with an appropriately set descrambling device...
. The billing system or BSS typically manages products and services, customers and addressable equipment such as the converters and controllers. A customer's request for a certain service or product is normally forwarded to the BSS. The billing system or BSS sends instructions to the controller, which configures the converter in accordance with the instructions. The controller also communicates with the headend to receive the proper authorization information needed for the particular configuration. This information is sent to the converter. The converter also receives the signal and compares information on the signal to corresponding authorization from the controller. Based on the comparison, the customer's STB may or may not be able to descramble the signal and view the content or Television Program.
The addressability system may be viewed as the interface between the billing system or BSS/OSS and the controller. Known addressability systems receive information from the billing system and send it to the appropriate controller to enable the controller to properly configure the converter. A conventional addressability systems may include an addressability server linked to the billing system. The addressability server receives information from the billing system and passes it to controller processors, which forward the information to the appropriate controller. Known systems are hardware driven and the packaging of enabling information is integrated with the billing system. The billing system gathers data corresponding to the customer and request, and packages the data into a format for a particular type of controller. Different types of controllers include, for example, controllers manufactured by General Instrument
General Instrument
General Instrument was an electronics manufacturer based in Horsham, PA specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment. The company was active until 1997, when it split into which was later acquired by Vishay Intertechnology in 2001, CommScope and NextLevel Systems General...
(GI), Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
, Jerrold, Scientific Atlanta http://cisco.com/en/US/products/ps8711/index.html, Zenith, Tocom and Oak.
One problem with conventional addressability systems is that the information received by the addressability server has already been packaged for a specific controller. Controllers are limited in the number of hardware links they can support. Because packaged information received by the addressability server is controller specific, and due to hardware limitations, a dedicated link is required between the addressability server and the controller. Since the number of links for a controller are limited, the addressability system can only support a limited number of controller types. The limit on the supportable controller
Controller
- Occupations :* Comptroller or financial controller, a senior accounting position* Air traffic controller, a person who directs aircraft* California State Controller, the Chief Financial Officer of the State of California in the United States...
links, together with the hardware limitations, also results in limits on the number of priority levels which can be accepted by a given controller. Thus, prior addressability systems are limited in their hardware and software scalability.
These problems are examples of difficulties encountered by the prior art. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that other problems exist with known addressability systems.
See also
- Business support system
- Operations support systemOperations support systemOperations support systems are computer systems used by telecommunications service providers. The term OSS most frequently describes "network systems" dealing with the telecom network itself, supporting processes such as maintaining network inventory, provisioning services, configuring network...
- Cable television headendCable television headendA cable television headend is a master facility for receiving television signals for processing and distribution over a cable television system. The headend facility is normally unstaffed and surrounded by some type of security fencing and is typically a building or large shed housing electronic...
- Set-top boxSet-top boxA set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
- Cable converter
- ScramblerScramblerIn telecommunications, a scrambler is a device that transposes or inverts signals or otherwise encodes a message at the transmitter to make the message unintelligible at a receiver not equipped with an appropriately set descrambling device...
- encryptionEncryptionIn cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
- ProvisioningProvisioningIn telecommunication, provisioning is the process of preparing and equipping a network to allow it to provide services to its users. In NS/EP telecommunications services, "provisioning" equates to "initiation" and includes altering the state of an existing priority service or capability.In a...
- conditional access system
- One-time padOne-time padIn cryptography, the one-time pad is a type of encryption, which has been proven to be impossible to crack if used correctly. Each bit or character from the plaintext is encrypted by a modular addition with a bit or character from a secret random key of the same length as the plaintext, resulting...
- Voice inversionVoice inversionVoice Inversion scrambling is an analog method of obscuring the content of a transmission. It sometimes used in public service radio, automobile racing, cordless telephones and the Family Radio Service. Without a descrambler, the transmission makes the speaker sound like "Donald Duck"...
Related technologies:
- ATSC tunerATSC tunerAn ATSC tuner, often called an ATSC receiver or HDTV tuner is a type of television tuner that allows reception of digital television television channels transmitted by television stations in North America, parts of Central America and South Korea that use ATSC standards...
- Audio
- Cable modemCable modemA cable modem is a type of network bridge and modem that provides bi-directional data communication via radio frequency channels on a HFC and RFoG infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of the high...
- Connectivity: RS-232RS-232In telecommunications, RS-232 is the traditional name for a series of standards for serial binary single-ended data and control signals connecting between a DTE and a DCE . It is commonly used in computer serial ports...
, USB, BluetoothBluetoothBluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
and Wi-FiWi-FiWi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20... - Digital television adapterDigital television adapterA digital television adapter , or digital-to-analog converter [set-top box], or commonly known as a converter box, it is a television tuner that receives a digital television transmission, and converts the digital signal into an analog signal that can be received and displayed on an analog...
(DTA) - DOCSISDOCSISData Over Cable Service Interface Specification is an international telecommunications standard that permits the addition of high-speed data transfer to an existing cable TV system...
- DVB
- Free-to-airFree-to-airFree-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
- Interactive televisionInteractive televisionInteractive television describes a number of techniques that allow viewers to interact with television content as they view it.- Definitions :...
- IPTVIPTVInternet Protocol television is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats.IPTV services...
- QAM tunerQAM tunerQAM stands for quadrature amplitude modulation, the format by which digital cable channels are encoded and transmitted via cable television providers...
- QPSK
- Symbol rateSymbol rateIn digital communications, symbol rate is the number of symbol changes made to the transmission medium per second using a digitally modulated signal or a line code. The Symbol rate is measured in baud or symbols/second. In the case of a line code, the symbol rate is the pulse rate in pulses/second...