Patent ID: 7895632
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A cable television diagnostic method for a cable television network, comprising: selecting a television set top box to be polled; sending a polling message to a modem forming a part of the television set top box from a cable television headend via a cable television cable connection to the set top box; wherein the polling message instructs the cable television set top box receiving the polling message to obtain an operational parameter, that can be correlated to user rights associated with the set top box and indicative of authorized use or theft of service by the set top box; wherein the operational parameter comprises at least one of a smart card identifier (ID), a logical channel ID, an MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) video packet identifier (PID), an MPEG audio PID and a conditional access service level; receiving a response message from the cable television set top box containing the operational parameter of the television set top box, where such response provides the operational parameter of the set top box from which the response message is sent; retrieving usage rights information associated with the television set top box that indicates what usage rights a user has paid for; comparing the operational parameter with the usage rights information to determine if the operational parameter indicates that the television set top box is being used outside of authorized usage rights paid for; and if the set top box is being used outside the authorized usage rights paid for, taking a corrective action.