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From: rfish@ihlpm.UUCP (Bob Fishell)
Newsgroups: net.video,net.tv
Subject: Re: CATV: "Addressable" Channels
Message-ID: <106@ihlpm.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Jan-85 13:40:15 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpm.106
Posted: Wed Jan 23 13:40:15 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jan-85 07:33:17 EST
References: <1486@ritcv.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 35
Xref: watmath net.video:911 net.tv:2327

> My cable company is going to start some new pay services, and will be
> doing something called "addressing" which authenticates the receiver,
> and allows it to receive the special channel(s).  They claim it will cut
> down on the possibility of stealing the channel.  It sounded to me
> (from this radio news blurb) that something in the home will TRANSMIT
> to the cable office.
> 
> Is this true? Does anyone know more?
> 

There are a variety of video systems that could work.  One method
does employ an in-receiver transmitter which sends a signal back
to the distribution point.  This is used mainly for pay-per-view
billing, though.  

Another method places a device inside the receiver that contains
a unique code burned into a PROM.  If you are a legit subscriber,
the cable company broadcasts a signal that will activate your
receiver and yours alone to receive pay channels.  This is best
used in conjunction with an unscrambler.  ON TV, an over-the-air
pay TV service in Chicago, uses this method to turn on and off
its unscramblers during its pay-per-view events and its nightly,
extra-charge porno broadcasts.

Coupling an in-receiver transmitter with a PROM-coded activation
scheme might provide a way of handshaking between transmitter
and receiver.  However, the cable companies are never going
to be able to stop signal theft without going digital and
using some sophisticated crypto techniques for their programs.
This won't happen for years.  In the mean time, all they can
do is make it a little tougher for the pirates.
-- 
			Bob Fishell
			ihnp4!ihlpm!rfish