Patent ID: 7246366
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method, at a decoder in a subscriber television system, for determining a service group associated with the decoder, the method comprising the steps of: (a) retrieving a service group table from a signal on the transmission medium, wherein the service group table includes a plurality of service group identifications, a plurality of transport stream identifications, and tuning information associated with at least one transport stream identification; (b) retrieving at least a portion of the tuning information from the service group table, the tuning information including at least one frequency, wherein the at least one frequency is associated with the at least one transport stream identification; (c) tuning to a frequency retrieved from the tuning information; (d) determining if a valid signal is present at the tuned frequency; (e) in response to determining that a valid signal is detected at the tuned frequency, determining the transport stream identification associated with the tuned frequency and, from the determined transport stream identification, determining an associated service group from the service group table as the service group for the decoder; (f) comparing the determined service group for the decoder with a previously stored service group; and (g) in response to a determination that the determined service group for the decoder is different than the previously stored service group, uploading the determined service group for the decoder to a system controller at a headend.