CA1137215A - Method and system for subscription television billing and access - Google Patents
Method and system for subscription television billing and accessInfo
- Publication number
- CA1137215A CA1137215A CA000297131A CA297131A CA1137215A CA 1137215 A CA1137215 A CA 1137215A CA 000297131 A CA000297131 A CA 000297131A CA 297131 A CA297131 A CA 297131A CA 1137215 A CA1137215 A CA 1137215A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- program
- signal
- subscriber
- telephone
- remote location
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17345—Control of the passage of the selected programme
- H04N7/17363—Control of the passage of the selected programme at or near the user terminal
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N7/17309—Transmission or handling of upstream communications
- H04N7/17327—Transmission or handling of upstream communications with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
- H04N2007/1739—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A system and method for accessing remote locations and transferring data to and from the accessed location, par-ticularly where the data is control data and billing information regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of a sub-scription television system, where access is over non-dedicated telephone lines. In the disclosed system, a scrambled tele-vision program signal containing a block of television program material and a program identification code unique to the block of program material is transmitted in the vertical retrace interval at a predetermined carrier frequency. The transmitted program signal is selectively received at a subscriber station and selectively unscrambled to permit viewing of the block of program material being transmitted in response to subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material. The program identification code in the program signal received at the subscriber station is detected and stored for subsequent transmission as an electrical signal in response to the subscriber acceptance action. The program identification code stored at the subscriber station is selectively accessed from a remove location over non-dedicated telephone lines on other than a real time basis (e.g., a periodic basis) to thereby pro-vide billing information at the remote location as to programs actually viewed by the subscriber. The subscriber can thus be billed on some desired periodic basis for programs actually viewed. Access is provided by selectively conditioning the remote terminal to generate dialing signals and to thereby provide selective connection of the accumulator to the telephone lines from the remote subscriber station. A preconditioning circuit such as timing means or a broadcast signal decoder at the sub-scriber's station conditions the remote terminal to effect a connection by telephone to the central station during a time of the day when the telephone there is not likely to be used for normal telephone calls.
A system and method for accessing remote locations and transferring data to and from the accessed location, par-ticularly where the data is control data and billing information regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of a sub-scription television system, where access is over non-dedicated telephone lines. In the disclosed system, a scrambled tele-vision program signal containing a block of television program material and a program identification code unique to the block of program material is transmitted in the vertical retrace interval at a predetermined carrier frequency. The transmitted program signal is selectively received at a subscriber station and selectively unscrambled to permit viewing of the block of program material being transmitted in response to subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material. The program identification code in the program signal received at the subscriber station is detected and stored for subsequent transmission as an electrical signal in response to the subscriber acceptance action. The program identification code stored at the subscriber station is selectively accessed from a remove location over non-dedicated telephone lines on other than a real time basis (e.g., a periodic basis) to thereby pro-vide billing information at the remote location as to programs actually viewed by the subscriber. The subscriber can thus be billed on some desired periodic basis for programs actually viewed. Access is provided by selectively conditioning the remote terminal to generate dialing signals and to thereby provide selective connection of the accumulator to the telephone lines from the remote subscriber station. A preconditioning circuit such as timing means or a broadcast signal decoder at the sub-scriber's station conditions the remote terminal to effect a connection by telephone to the central station during a time of the day when the telephone there is not likely to be used for normal telephone calls.
Description
~3~Z~5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data access system and more particularly to a method and system ~or obtainin~ billin~
info~mation re~ardin~ pro~rams viewed by a subscrib~r of a sub-scription televi.sion system.
gince the advent of home services such as subscription or pay television, num~rous techniques have been devised to bill the subscribers ~or the services provided. ~t has been suggested for subscription television that tlle subscriber pay ~or sub-scription television services on a fixed charge basis, a uni~orm cost per unit use basis, or on a per program charge basis. More recent systems have adopted the per program charge basis ~or billing.
It will be appreciated that a fixed charge or uniform charge per unit basis of billing presents the least problems with regard to recording and calcul~ting billing charges. With a fixed charge system as is used with most cable television or CATV systems, the station operator merely bills the subscriber a fixed amount on a monthly basis.
The uniform per unit use billing involves somewhat more complex procedures since actual viewing time must be recorded and somehow made available to the operator for billing purposes. Moreover, the viewing time must be registered in conjunction with the identity of each subscriber so that an individual subscrlber can be billed for his viewing time.
The most complex billing system and yet the most desirable from ~he standpoint of the subscriber is billing on the basis of actual programs viewed with different charges for different programs. In such a system, the billing entity must know both the identity of the subscriber and the identity of the programs viewed during a billing period.
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Several billing sy.stems have been developed in ordcr to charge ~ubscribers to a p~y television system on the basis of programs actually vlewecl. Typical of ttlese types of systems are the coinbox systems that are ex~rnplified by Unitecl States Patent 3, 021, 3~3. In SUC~I a system, the subscriber must deposit a ccrtain amo~lnt of moncy in a coinbox attachcd to the receiver in order to view a partlcular program. Dif~erent programs may be assigned different charges so that, for example, a particular movie rnay cost less to view than a sporting event. With such a system, payment for the program enables the viewing of a program and payment is thus assured. However, the billing entity (the system operator) must collect the money frorn the coinboxes on a periodic basis, requiring considerable man-pow~r and also requiring access to the subscriber's home.
Another approach to billing on a per program basis requires the subscriber to place a telephone call to some central location and request the receipt of a particular program. The calling subscriber's equipment is then enabled and charges for the program can be recorded and billed to the calling subscriber. It will be appreciated that such a system may encounter diffi-culties in large service areas with a large number of subscribers. In addi-tion, the subscriber's telephone must be utilized frequently for this purpose.
Other approaches to the billing proklem in pay TV systems include the one of cards or paper tapes that are used at the su~scriber location to record viewing information. In a particular system, a card is mailed to the sub-scriber and is required for operation of the subscriber's receiver. The card is punched or otherwise imprinted at the subscriber location to record program charges and must be mailed or otherwise transmitted to the system operator so that charges may be assessed. Typical o these types of systems are those shown in U. S. Patents 3, 470, 309, 3, 475, 547 and 3, 531, 533.
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Another type o~ billing system may be characterized as a real time metering or interrogating system such as that shown in U.S. Patents 3,396,232, 3,716,654 and 3,733,430.
These systems typically interrogate the receivers or otherwise monitor the status of the receivers on a program by program basis (e.g., throu~h the use o special transducers) to de-termine if the subscriber is watching a particular program. This information can then be used for billing purposes as well as audience survey purposes and the like.
It can be seen that the foregoing systems suffer from numerous deficiencies including system complexity, enormous time consumption, reliance on subscriber action to receive billing information, and the like. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to obviate the foregoing and other deficiencies of the prior art pay television system billing procedures through the.use of a novel method and system for billing on a per program basis ; with a minimum of complex equipment and a minimum of ~ *20 human intervention. ~~~~ ~~~~~-~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~
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~3729~5 The invention is a billing system for obtaining billing in~ormation regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of a pay television system. The bllling system comprises:
(a) Means for transmitting at a predetermined carrier frequency a scrambled television program signal containing a bloc~ of television program material and an identification code unique to the block of program material being transmitted.
10 (b) Means at a subscriber station for selectively receiving the transmitted program signal and for selectively unscramhling the program signal to permit viewing of the block of program material being transmitted in response to subscriber ac-tion indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material.
(c) Means for detecting the identification code in the `
program signal received at the subscriber station and for temporarily storing a program identification code for subsequent transmission as an electrical :
signal in response to the detected identification code and to the subscriber ac-tion indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material.
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~37~5 (d) Means connected to the detecting and storing means for selectively accessing the program identification code stored at the subscriber station on other than a real time basis and for transmitting the stored program identification signal to a remote location in response to a command signal received from the remo-te location to thereb~ provide billing information at the remote locat,ion as to programs actually viewed by the subscriber.
In the billing system, the program identi:~ication code may be transmitted in a video portion of the scrambled program signal during a vertical retrace interval. Moreover, the billing system may include a computer at the remote location for selectively establ.ishing a communication link between the accessing means and the remote location and ' : for generating the command signals to effect the transmission ,~
of the stored program identification signals. The communication ~.
link, in the billing system, including a compu~er at the remote location, may be established over non-dedic,ated ' -20 telephone lines and the program identification.code may be transmit~ed in a video portion of the scrambled program signal during a vertical retrace interval.
The accessing means of the billing system may include:
; (a) Means including automatic dialing signal generating means at the subscriber station connected to nondedicated telephone lines for initiating ~L37~:~S
telephone connection of the subscriber station to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines.
~b) Means for selectively conditioning the initiating means on a selection basis that is time de-terminable ; in order to effect the connection of th~ subscriber station to the remote loca~ion over the nondedicated telephone lines while minimi~ing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the subscriber station.
(c) Means at the subscriber station for effecting the transfer of program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the connection made between the stations on ~-; the nondedicated telephone lines.
(d) Means at the remote location for receiving and storing the transferred codes.
The billing system may also lnclude means for -accumulating data at. the remote location over nondedicated 23 telephone lines connected to a telephone set at the subscriber station while minimizing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the telephone -~
set. The means for accumulating data comprise:
(a) A selectively operable telephone dialing means connected to the nondedicated telephone lines a-t ; the subscriber station.
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1~37~Z15 (b) Means at the subscriber station connected to the dialing means for initiating the transmission of a predetermined pat-tern o:E sequential, periodic telephone dialing signa].s over the telephone lines to thereb~ place a call from the subscrlber station to the remote location over the telephone lines.
(c) Means for selectivel~v conditioning the initiating means at a time when the telephone set at the subscriber station is not normally in use in order to effect the transmission of the pattern oE
; telephone dialing signals over the telephone lines and thereby initiate the transm.ission of telephone ringin~ signals to the remote location.
(d) Means at the remote location for automatically receiving and answering the telephone ringing signals to place the remote location in connection ; over the nondedicated telephone lines with the subscriber station initiating the ringing signals.
(e) Means at the subscriber station for detecting the answering of the ringing signals by the remote location;
(f) Means at the subscriber station for transferring program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines in response to the answer detecting means.
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(g) Means at the remote location for receiving and storing the transferred codes.
In the bi.lling system including means for accumulating data at the remote location, the condit:ioning means may be operated on a ti.me-selected basis by tim.in~ means at the remot~ location that periodically enable the initiating means at predete.rmined time intervals and at predetermined times of day when the telephone lines at the remote location are not normally in use so as to initiate a call from the remote location to the central location at the times of day at the time intervals.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the : present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed descriptlon when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a subscription or pay television system in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a signal diagram illustratihg an exemplary form of the video portion of the program signal with scramble and program ID codes as utilized in the system of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating the central transmitting station of Figure 1 ln greater detail;
Figure 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the subscriber station equipment of Figure 1 in greater detail;
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Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of a pre-ferred form of the access unit and billing processor of Figure l; and, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating in greater detail the embodiment of the access unit and billing processor of Figure 5.
D~TAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to Figure 1, the system according to the present invention generally comprises central station equipment 10 which supplies program signals in a scrambled form to subscriber station equipment 12 at each of the sub-scriber stations. As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the scrambled program signal includes scrambled audlo and video signals as well as various synchronizing signals and codes. The scrambled program signal SPROG is supplied to the subscribers either by conventional broadcast or cable techniques.
The audio and video signals from a conventional source such as television camera equipment are applied to a program signal scrambler 14 to produce respective scrambled audio and video signals SAUD and SVID. In addition, the program signal scrambler 14 provides a transmitted scramble code TSC for transmission with the scrambled proyram audio ....... . . . ...
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~L3~2~5 video signals. The SAUD, SVID and TSC signals from the scrambler 14 are provided to a suitable conventional transmitter 16 for production of a scrambled prograrn signal that includes the code signals and for transmis-sion to subscriber stations.
A program ID code unit 18 synchronized with the scrambled video signal and scramble code provides a program code TPC for transmission with the program signals. This program ID code TPC is combined with the scrambled program video and the scramble code for transmission to the subscriber as is described hereinafter in greater detail. In addition, the central station,equipment 10 may include a billing data gathering computer 20. It should however be understood that the billing data gathering computer 20 may be located at any convenient central location and need not be located at the transmitting site~
The scrambled program signal SPROG from the central station equip-ment 10 is received by a program signal receiver 22 at the subscriber station and the received signal is supplied both to a program signal unscrambler 24 and to a control and storage unit 26. The program signal unscrambler 24 operates in response to control signals from the control and storage unit 26 to unscramble the lncoming program signal and provide unscrambled audio and video signals UAUD and UVID to a conventional modulator 28. The modulator 28 modulates a carrier signal of an appropriate carrier frequency with the unscrambled audio and video signals and supplies the unscrambled program signal in the form of a modulated carrier wave to the television , , : ; ~ . , , :
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antenna terminals for use by the subscriber's television set in a conventional manner.
A subscriber control unit 30 provicles subscriber control o~ program viewing. The subscriber control unit 30 may, for example, include one or more subscriber manipulated controls which permit the subscriber to selectively tune a conventional tuner in the program signal receiver 22 in order to select a desired program as well as to provide appropriate signals to the control and storage unit 26 indicating that the subscriber has selected a program for viewing and has thus assumed the obligation to pay that program.
The control and storage unit 26 detects code signals in the incoming scrarnbled program signal for unscrambling and billing purposes. In this respect, the transmitted scrambled code TSC is detected by the control and storage unit 26 and compared to a received scramble code RSC supplied to the control and storage unit through an access unit 32 and stored in the control and storage unit. The control and storag~e unit 26 also detects the transmitted program code TPC in the incoming program signal and stores the program code of a particular program being viewed. The stored program code SPC is then supplied on command to the access unit 32. As illustrated, the access unit 32 is connected to telephone lines which are in turn connect-able through conventional telephone switching equipment to the telephone lines leading to the biLling data gathering computer 20.
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In operat;on, the audio ancl video program signals are supplied to the progrslm signal scrambler 1-~ and are scram~led in any suitable co~-ventional manner. For example, these signals may he scrambled inaccordance with the techniques clescribed in United States Patent 3, 82~, 33 through selective inversion of portions of the video signal. The scramble code TSC may be inserted into the vicleo signal in order to permit unscrambling of the progrclm signals at the subscriber station as is set forth in patent No.
3, 824, 332.
In addition, each program that is transmitted in a scrambled form may be identified by placing a program code TPC in the video signal during the vertical retrace interval of the signal or at any other convenient location.
In this connection, the program code and scramble code may be cornbinedwith the program video at the appropriate locations by synchronizing the generation of these codes with the video synchronizing signals in any known manner such as that shown in the referenced patent No. 3, 824, 332.
The program signal transmitter 16 combines the video and code signals and transmits this combined signal together with the audio signal at an appropriate carrier frequency. The resultant video portion of the program signal may thus take the form illustrated in Figure 2. For example, as is illustrated in Figure 2, the successive horizontal lines of the video signal are conventionally separated by horizontal synchronization pulses and each frame of video signals is separated by a vertical retrace interval or vertical synchronization signal. During the vertical retrace interval, various equalizing and synchronization pulses are provided and it is in this interval that the scramble and program ID codes are preferably combined with the transmitted program signal. These cocles are prefera~ly encoded in a 372~LS
digital form as illustrated in Figure 2 although it should be understood that any well known codiny technique such as the tone burst technique described in U.S. Patent 3,824,332 may be utilized.
With continued reference to Figures 1 and 2, the transmitted program video signal is thus in the form of a scrambled signal (e.g., with selected frames of video inform-ation inverted) with codes inserted at appropriate locations to identify the program being transmitted and to indicate to the subscriber equipment the state of the subsequent video signal (i.e., inverted or non-inverted). The program signal receiver 22 selects a particular carrier frequency through the use of a conventional tuner and demodulates the incoming program signal to recover the audio, video and code signals.
The recovered scrambled program signal is supplied to the program signal unscrambler 24 and to the control and storage unit 26 for unscrambling and detection of the codes contained in the video portion of the program signal. The scramble codes detected in the program signal are used to generate the control signals that control the unscrambling of the program signal by the unscrambler 24. The program code in the incoming video signal is stored in a storage unit that may be selectively accessed by an access unit 32. The access unit 32 may be, for example, of the type disclosed hereinafter in connection with Figures 5 and 6.
; It will be appreciated that the invention provides a relatively simple manner of subscriber billing that allows for the identification of programs actually viewed and the rapid gathering of this information on a periodic basis long after a program has been viewed~ Each subscriber station is selectively . :
, ~, accessed so that program viewing information in association with subscriber identification information is available at a central location for billing purposes.
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Moreover, the IJilling gatherirlg computer 20 has complete control over the ~ubscril~er station equipment 12 in the sense that it can deny new scramble codes to the subscriber station equipment on a selective basis if that par-ticular subscriber has not paid his bill or for other relevant reasons.
To facilitate an understanclin~ o~ the present invention, the central station equipment 10 and the subscriber equipment 12 are illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3 and ~L, respectively.
Referring to Figure 3, the central station equipment receives the unscrambled program signal UPROG including the audio and video portions.
The audio portion is applied to a program audio scrambler 40 and the video portion is applied to both a program video scrambler 42 and to a video sync detector 44. The video sync detector 44 detects an appropriate synchroniza-tion pulse in the video signal, e. g., the vertical sync pulses, and supplies the sync pulse to a scramble code generator 46 and to the program ID code unit 18. The scramble code generator 4~ supplies a video scramble control signal ~7CS to the program video scrambler 42 and an audio scramble control signal ACS to the program audio scrambler 40. The program signal is thus scrambled to produce a scrambled audio signal SAUD and a scrambled video signal SVID in a conventional manner. In addition, the scramble code TSC
is generated by the scramble code generator 46 so as to identify the manner in which the program signal has been scrambled.
As was previously mentioned, the program ID code unit 18 receives the sync signal from the video sync detector 44 and generates the program code signal TPC. In this connection, a program ID code selector 48 may be provided to control the generation of a particular program code by a program ID code generator 50. Thus, the station operator can select a par-ticular code for a particular program in this manner.
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'rhe scram~ d atl(lio an~l video sig~ ls togetllel with the scramblc(l code and program code are s-lpplic(3 to the scrambled program sigllal trans-mStter lG compris;n~ a signal combirler 52 ancl conventional modulators anc~transmitters 54. Tlle signal con~biner 5?. receives the scrambled video, seramble cocle and pro~ram eocle ';igllalS ancl combines these signals in a conventional manner to procluce a signal s~lcll as t~lat ill~lstrated in l~igure 2.
This combined signal is tllen appliecl to tlle modulators and transmitters 5ds together with the serambled audio signal for moclulation of these signals onto a suitable carrier wave for transmission.
It will thus be appreciated from the diagram of Figure 3 that the video syne detector 44 detects the appropriate synchronization pulse in the video signal in order to trigger the scramble code generator 46 and the program ID code generator 50 at appropriate times. ~or e~;ample, the video sync deteetor 4aS preferably detects the vertical sync pulse during the vertical retrace interval of the video signal. This vertical sync pulse triggers the scramble cocle generator 4G in order to cause the program video signal to be inverted or passed uninverted at an appropriate time. In addition, the cletected sync signal triggers the scramble code generator and the program ID code generator in order to synchronize the generation of the scramble code 20 and program code signals TSC and TPC witll the occurrence of the vertical retrace interval. The audio scramble control signal ACS generated by the ~-scramble code generator 46 may be any suitable control signal and need not be synchronized to the video synchronization pulses.
The signal connbiner 52 conventionally combines the video and code signals and the modulators and transmit~ers 5~ provide appropriate modulated signals for either broadcast or cable transmission.
Referring now to Figure ~, the program signal receiver 22 at the ~subscriber station may include a conventional turler 5G and a conventional '~ ~
~.~L3~215i democlulator 58. 'rhe scrambled program signaL is supplied to the tuner 56 and to the dennoclulator 58 for recovery of the scramblecI audio and scrambled video signals. The scrambled video signal, of course, contains the program ancI seramble eodes in adclition to video information. Control of the tuner 56 ancI thus selection ol` a particular carrier frequency may be aecomplished in a eonventional manner by a control Icnob on the subscriber control unit 30.
The eontrol unit 30 may therefore be referred to as a program seleet and aeeept eontrol sinee this control also may provide for the application of an aeeept signal ACC to the control and storage unit 26 as an indication that the subscriber has assumed the obligation to pay for a particular program to whieh the equipment is tuned.
The serambled audio signal is supplied to a program audio unserambler 60 and the scrambled video signal is supplied both to a program video un-seramhler 62 and to a eode deteetor 64 in the control and storage unit 26.
The eode detector 64, when enabled by the accept signal ACC9 detects the reeeived scramble code RSC and the received program eode in the video signal. The received scrambled code is supplied to a scramble code eomparator 66 and the reeeived program eode is supplled to a eonventional signal storage device 68 for storage and later reeall by the aeeess unit 32.
The scramble code comparator 66 receives a stored scramble code signal SSC from the signal storage device 68 and generates the video and audio unseramble control signals VCS' and ACS', respectively. These two signals are supplied to the respective program video unscrambler 62 and the program audio unserambler 60 in order to reeonstitute the scrambled video and audio signals to their original form prior to serambling by the program signal serambler 14 at the eentral station equiDment. This unserambling proeess may take the form, for example, of that illustrated and deseribed in previously ~ 15 -~37Z~5 referenced U.S. Patent 3,824,332. Thus, for example, when the received scramble code RSC is compared to the stores scramble code SSC and is identified as an invert signal, the VCS' signal causes the program video unscrambler 62 to invert the subsequent frame of video signals. Similarly, when the received scramble code is compared with the stored scramble code and is identified as a non-invert signal, the video signal is passed by the program video unscrambler 62 in an uninverted form.
The access unit 32 is connected to the telephone lines as was previously described and provides access between the billing data gathering computer 20 and the signal storage device 68. The subscriber station equipment may be accessed in any one of the various ways disclosed hereafter in connec-tion with Figures 5 and 6 such as through the timed placement of a call from the access unit 32 to the computer 20 (e.g., the placement of a call on a monthly basis). Similarly, when the signal storage device 68 is full and can store no more program codes, the access unit 32 may place a call to the ~- 20 data gathering computer 20 to transfer billing information ~ thereto~
;~ In this connection, the computer 20 and access unit 32 may be connected over the telephone lines through conven-tional telephone switching equipment as commanded either from ` the access unit 32 or from the computer 20. After the con-nection is effected between the computer 20 and the access unit 32, various data may be transmitted over the telephone lines.
The computer 20 may, for example, initially command 30 the access unit 32 to transmit the stored program code signals - ]6 - .
~372~5 SPC from the signal storage device 68 to the computer 20.
This may be accomplished ln any suitable manner as, for example, by sending a code to the access unit 32 and gener-ating an interrogate or read signal INT which causes the signal storage device 68 to supply the stored program codes SPC to the telephone lines and therefore to the computer 20.
Similarly, the computer 20 may transmit a code to the access unit 32 commanding it to generate a strobe or right signal STR in order to transmit new scramble codes RSC through the 10 access unit to the signal storage device 68. During normal operation, then, the signal storage device may be supplied with scramble codes for one month's programs and at the end of that month new scramble codes may be supplied for the next month's programming. At the same time, the program codes stored in the signal storage device 68 may be accessed and transferred to the computer 20 so that the subscriber may be billed for actual programs viewed during the preceding month at various rates for various programs.
Figure 5 illustrates a telephone access system according to the invention in which a telephone call to con-nect a billing processor to a remote terminal or data accumu lator is made to the central station 10 from the subscriber's station 12 by way of non-dedicated telephone lines 114. The connection between the two stations is effected through com-mercially installed telephone system switching equipment 116 by conventional dialing signals produced at the subscriber's station 12 as will hereinafter be described in detail.
The central station 10 includes the billing processor 20, or billing data gathering computer 20, a telephone answer-ing apparatus 120 and a telephone station or set 122. The ~3~2~i receipt of a subscriber's call at the telephone set 122operates in a conventional manner through the call answering apparatus 120 to connect the billing processor 20 to the telephone lines 114. The billing processor 20 then operates in a conventional manner to identify the subscriber and receive the information from the subscriber's remote terminal or data accumulator. Additional central stations such as the station 10' may also be provided to receive data from the subscriber's station 12.
The subscriber's station 12 includes a telephone set 124 and a preconditioning circuit 126 which conditions control apparatus 128 to operate telephone dialing apparatus 130 to make connection of a remote terminal or data accumu-lator 132 with the central station 10. In this connection, the control apparatus 128, the telephone dialing apparatus 130 and the remote terminal 132 are connected across (i.e., in parallel with) the non-dedicated telephone lines 114 which - are installed to the telephone set 124. The preconditioning circuit 126 provides a precondition signal PC to the control 20 apparatus 128 and, as will be described hereinafter in detail, may also supply data selection signals SEL to the telephone dialing apparatus 130 and to the remote terminal 132. The control apparatus supplies a READ signal to the remote terminal 132 and also supplies timed trigger signals Tl-T7 to the dialing apparatus 130.
In operation, the system of Figure 5 permits normal operation of the subscriber's telephone 124. The telephone set 124 will be out of normal operation only during the few seconds in a billing period that the control apparatus 128 30 places the remote terminal 132 in connection with the central station 10.
~372~5 As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the preconditioning circuit 126 trlggers or enables the operation of the control apparatus 128 periodically either on a timed basis (e.~., once a month at a time when the telephone set is not normally in use) or upon receipt oE some externally applied command signal CMD as .illustxated in phantom. The control apparatus 128 supplies the trigger signals Tl-T7 to operate the telephone dialing apparatus 130 and place a call to a selected one of the central stations 10 and 10'.
The call is placed by the telephone dialing appar-atus 130 under the control of the control apparatus 128 by applying a conventional "dialing" signal (e.g., an inter-rupter type dial signal or a multi-tone signal) to the tele-phone lines. The "dialing" signals are received by the tele-phone switching equipment 116. The call is routed to the appropriate central station by the telephone switching equip-ment 116 placing a "ringing" signal on the appropriate non-dedicated lines 114 and the call is answered automatically in a~conventional manner by the answering apparatus 120. A "go 20 ahead" signal lS then placed on the telephone lines 114 lead-ing to the subscriber's station 12 to indicate that the call has been answered~ The billing processor 20 may also place an encoded "go ahead" signal on the lines 114 so as to provide a "go ahead" code unique to the billing system for detection at the subscriber's station making the call.
When the call has been answered by the answering apparatus 120 at the central station, the control apparatus 128 at the subscriber's station 12 applies the READ signal to the remote terminal 132. A data accumulator in the remote 30 terminal is then connected across the telephone lines 114 and ~372~S
the data ln the accumulator, together with a code unique to the calling subscriber's station, is transmitted to the cen-tral terminal 10 over the non-dedicated telephone lines.
Where more than one data accumulator is provided in the remote terminal 132, the SEL signal selects the desired data accumu-lator and the data in that accumulator is read and transmitted to the central station. The SEL signal may also provide selectivity in placing a call to one of several central stations as will subsequently be described.
Referring now to Figure 6 wherein one form of the present invention is illustrated in greater detail, the pre-conditioning circuit 126 provides the PC signal to the set input terminal S of a binary multivibrator or flip flop 134 and to one input terminal of a two input terminal OR gate 136 in the control apparat~is 128. ~he output signal from the true or binary ONE output terminal Q of the 1ip Elop 134 is applied ;~
to one input terminal of the two input terminal AND gate 138 and the output signal from the AND gate 138 is applied to the enable input termlnal ENB of a conventionaI oscillator 140.
The output signal from the oscillator 140 is applied to the clock input terminal CL of a conventional seven-stage shift register 142.
~; The output signal from the OR gate 136 is applied to the reset input terminal R of the shift register 142 and to the set input terminal S of a blnary multivibrator or flip flop 144. The output signal from the true output term-inal Q of the flip flop 144 is applied to the data input terminal D of the shift register 142. The output signal from the first stage of the shift register 142 is applied to the reset input terminal R of the flip flop 144 and the output ~l~37Z~5 signal from the seventh stage of the shift register 142 is supplied through an invertor 146 to the second input terminal of the AND gate 138. The output signal from the seventh stage of the shift register 142 is also applied to one input terminal of a two input terminal AND gate 148 and to one input terminal of a two input terminal AND gate 150.
The output signal from the AND 148 is applied to the enable input terminal of a conventional timer 152 and the out-put signal from the timer 152 is applied to the second input 10 terminal of the OR gate 136. A go ahead detector 154 is con-nected across the non-dedicated telephone lines 114 and the output signal from the detector 154 is supplied to the second input terminal of the AND gate 150, through an inverter 156 to the second input terminal of the AND gate 148 and to trigger input terminal T of a conventional timer 158. The output signal from the timer 158 is applied to the reset input term-inal R of the flip flop 134.
The AND gate 150 in the control apparatus 128 gen-erates the READ signal which is supplied to the remote term-inal 132. More specifically, the READ signal is applied fromthe output terminal of the AND gate 150 to the READ enable input terminal RE of a conventional data accumulator 160 (e.g.
;~ a register or other suitable memory device) and through a conventional light emitting diode 162 to ground. The SPC
signal is applied to the data input terminal of the accumulator 160. The output terminals of the data accumulator 160 are connected through coupling capacitors 164 and 166 through a load resistor 168. The capacitor 164-resistor 168 junction is connected through a light responsive transistor (e.g., a phototransistor) to one side of the telephone lines 114 and .
the capacitor 166-resistor 168 junction is connected directly to the other side of the lines 114.
The RSC signals received over the lines 114 are coupled to the signal storage device 68 previously described from a suitable point in the access circuit (i.e., as illus-trated if a READ/WRITE sicJnal is used or directly Erom the telephone lines if other control means is used. In this regard, it should be noted that the INT and STR control sig-nals previously mentioned may be utilized to control inter-10 rogation of and storage by the storage device 68 of Figure 4.These signals may be conventionally generated by a suitable decoder 161 connected to the telephone lines.
The shift register 142 of the control apparatus 128 supplies the Tl-T7 trigger signals to the telephone dialing apparatus 140. Specifically, the signals Tl~T7 from the respective first through seventh stages of the shift register 142 are supplied to a conventional steering matrix 170 in the telephone dialing apparatus 130. The steering matrix 170 supplies tone selection signals TSl-TS10 to a suitable con-20 ventional tone generator 172 and the output terminals of thetone generator 172 are connected across the telephone lines 114.
In operation, the preconditioning circuit 126 period-ically generates the PC signal on a timed basis or otherwise as described hereinafter. The PC signal sets the flip flop 134, operates a line capture circuit 178 through NOR gates 174 and 176, and also sets the flip flop 144 through the OR gate 136. The setting of the flip flop 134 enables the AND gate 138, enabling the oscillator 140. The setting of flip flop 134 also enables the tone generator 172 via OR gate 181.
30 Since the flip flop 144 is also set, a binary ONE output signal ~3~2~5 is supplied to the data input terminal D of the shift register 142 and the first clock signal from the oscillator 140 shifts the binary ONE into the first stage of the shift register 142.
The flip flop 144 is thereafter reset and the binary ONE is shifted the length of the shift register 142 by the oscillator 140 output siynal.
As the binary ONE signal is shifted through the register 142, the signals Tl-T7 sequentially assume high and then low signal levels. The steering matrix 170 is preset to 10 generate a predetermined sequence of tone selection signals TSl-TS10 in response to this sequential triggering so that the tone generator 172 generates a predetermined dialing signal associated with the telephone number of a particular central station. Accordingly, as the binary ONE signal is shifted along the shift register 142, the tone generator 172 places a series of dialing tones on the non-dedicated tele-phone lines 114 and the call is placed to the particular central station desired.
~` When the binary ONE signal is shifted into the 20 seventh stage of the shift register 142, the AND gate 138 is `~ inhibited, inhibiting the oscillator 140 and preventing further shifting of the shift reglster 142. The binary ONE signal in the seventh stage of the shift register 142 enables the AND
gates 148 and 150 and, since a "go ahead" signal is not ` immediately detected by the detector 154, the timer 152 is enabled. If the timer 152 times out before a "go ahead" sig-nal is received, a binary ONE output pulse signal is produced by the timer 152 on lead 153 and the control apparatus is reset so that a call is again placed to the central station 30 as was previously described. The output pulse from timer 152 ~L372~
also momentarily disconnects line capture 178 so that the telephone switching equipment is set up to properly receive the next dialing sequence.
If the "cJo ahead" signal is received before the timer 152 times out, the ~ND gate 148 is inhibited by the signal from the go ahead detector 154 and the AND gate 150 is enabled. The tone generator 172 is disabled via OR gate 181.
The timer 152 places a "stop sequence" pulse on line 155 after a predetermined number of sequences with no go-ahead signal to reset the flip flop 134 by way of the OR gate 183.
Enabling of the AND gate 150 by the signal from the go ahead detector 154 produces the READ signal which energizes the light emitting diode 162, causing the phototransistor 169 to become conductive. This effectively places the resistor 168 across the telephone lines 114. At the same time the READ
signal enables the data accumulator 160 by, for example, enabling a clock signal in the data accumulator 160 to clock the accumulated data onto the telephone lines 114 through the coupling capacitors 164 and 166. The data accumulated by the accumulator 160 is thus applied to the telephone lines 114 and is transmitted to the central station over the non-dedicated telephone lines. In addition, an address signal or other coded signal is transmitted to the central station so that the data received by the central station can be associated with the transmitting subscriber station. This address signal may be permanently stored in the data accumulator and may be clocked onto the telephone lines 114 every time data is transmitted.
The timer 158 is triggered upon receipt of the "go ahead" signal by the go ahead detector 154. The timer 158 times out over a period slightly greater than the longest 3~Z~;
expected time required for emptying the data accumulator 160.
When the timer 158 times out, the flip flop 134 is reset via OR gate 183 so that the control apparatus 128 is prepared for the next preconditioning signal PC supplied by the precondi-tioning circuit 126.
The control apparatus 128 may be arranged to seize the telephone lines 114 (i.e., provide the telephone system with an "off-hook" indication so that a call may be placed) in any suitable conventional matter other than that illus-trated. For example, the signal PC from the preconditioningcixcuit 126 may be provided to a conventional electromechan-, ical device which actually lifts the receiver of the telephone set 124 off the hook switch. A]ternatively, the output signal from the flip flop 134 may be utilized to trigger the illustrated line capture circuit 178 or any other conventional circuit connected across the telephone lines 114 to seize the lines for placement of a call in a conventional manner.
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' -~.~L37Z~5 In addition, it should be understood that the pre-conditloning circuit 126 is preferably a clock that can be set by the central station ove.r the telephone lines 11~ when a connection is macle between the sta~ions. For example, part of the code receivecl fron~ the central station can include a binary number that represents a time period. This number can be re-ceived at the subscribers station and stored in the precondition-ing circuit for use in controlling the time interval between initiation of calls by the control apparatus 128. Thus, for example, if a subscriber has not paid his bill when new codes are supplied at the end of a month, the cloc} may be set for one week at which time, if the bill is still not paid, no more codes required for unscrambling will be supplied.
From the foregoing descriptlon, it will be made clear that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not re-strictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meanin~ and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
The present invention relates to a data access system and more particularly to a method and system ~or obtainin~ billin~
info~mation re~ardin~ pro~rams viewed by a subscrib~r of a sub-scription televi.sion system.
gince the advent of home services such as subscription or pay television, num~rous techniques have been devised to bill the subscribers ~or the services provided. ~t has been suggested for subscription television that tlle subscriber pay ~or sub-scription television services on a fixed charge basis, a uni~orm cost per unit use basis, or on a per program charge basis. More recent systems have adopted the per program charge basis ~or billing.
It will be appreciated that a fixed charge or uniform charge per unit basis of billing presents the least problems with regard to recording and calcul~ting billing charges. With a fixed charge system as is used with most cable television or CATV systems, the station operator merely bills the subscriber a fixed amount on a monthly basis.
The uniform per unit use billing involves somewhat more complex procedures since actual viewing time must be recorded and somehow made available to the operator for billing purposes. Moreover, the viewing time must be registered in conjunction with the identity of each subscriber so that an individual subscrlber can be billed for his viewing time.
The most complex billing system and yet the most desirable from ~he standpoint of the subscriber is billing on the basis of actual programs viewed with different charges for different programs. In such a system, the billing entity must know both the identity of the subscriber and the identity of the programs viewed during a billing period.
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Several billing sy.stems have been developed in ordcr to charge ~ubscribers to a p~y television system on the basis of programs actually vlewecl. Typical of ttlese types of systems are the coinbox systems that are ex~rnplified by Unitecl States Patent 3, 021, 3~3. In SUC~I a system, the subscriber must deposit a ccrtain amo~lnt of moncy in a coinbox attachcd to the receiver in order to view a partlcular program. Dif~erent programs may be assigned different charges so that, for example, a particular movie rnay cost less to view than a sporting event. With such a system, payment for the program enables the viewing of a program and payment is thus assured. However, the billing entity (the system operator) must collect the money frorn the coinboxes on a periodic basis, requiring considerable man-pow~r and also requiring access to the subscriber's home.
Another approach to billing on a per program basis requires the subscriber to place a telephone call to some central location and request the receipt of a particular program. The calling subscriber's equipment is then enabled and charges for the program can be recorded and billed to the calling subscriber. It will be appreciated that such a system may encounter diffi-culties in large service areas with a large number of subscribers. In addi-tion, the subscriber's telephone must be utilized frequently for this purpose.
Other approaches to the billing proklem in pay TV systems include the one of cards or paper tapes that are used at the su~scriber location to record viewing information. In a particular system, a card is mailed to the sub-scriber and is required for operation of the subscriber's receiver. The card is punched or otherwise imprinted at the subscriber location to record program charges and must be mailed or otherwise transmitted to the system operator so that charges may be assessed. Typical o these types of systems are those shown in U. S. Patents 3, 470, 309, 3, 475, 547 and 3, 531, 533.
~ ~37Z~LS
Another type o~ billing system may be characterized as a real time metering or interrogating system such as that shown in U.S. Patents 3,396,232, 3,716,654 and 3,733,430.
These systems typically interrogate the receivers or otherwise monitor the status of the receivers on a program by program basis (e.g., throu~h the use o special transducers) to de-termine if the subscriber is watching a particular program. This information can then be used for billing purposes as well as audience survey purposes and the like.
It can be seen that the foregoing systems suffer from numerous deficiencies including system complexity, enormous time consumption, reliance on subscriber action to receive billing information, and the like. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to obviate the foregoing and other deficiencies of the prior art pay television system billing procedures through the.use of a novel method and system for billing on a per program basis ; with a minimum of complex equipment and a minimum of ~ *20 human intervention. ~~~~ ~~~~~-~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~
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~3729~5 The invention is a billing system for obtaining billing in~ormation regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of a pay television system. The bllling system comprises:
(a) Means for transmitting at a predetermined carrier frequency a scrambled television program signal containing a bloc~ of television program material and an identification code unique to the block of program material being transmitted.
10 (b) Means at a subscriber station for selectively receiving the transmitted program signal and for selectively unscramhling the program signal to permit viewing of the block of program material being transmitted in response to subscriber ac-tion indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material.
(c) Means for detecting the identification code in the `
program signal received at the subscriber station and for temporarily storing a program identification code for subsequent transmission as an electrical :
signal in response to the detected identification code and to the subscriber ac-tion indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material.
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~37~5 (d) Means connected to the detecting and storing means for selectively accessing the program identification code stored at the subscriber station on other than a real time basis and for transmitting the stored program identification signal to a remote location in response to a command signal received from the remo-te location to thereb~ provide billing information at the remote locat,ion as to programs actually viewed by the subscriber.
In the billing system, the program identi:~ication code may be transmitted in a video portion of the scrambled program signal during a vertical retrace interval. Moreover, the billing system may include a computer at the remote location for selectively establ.ishing a communication link between the accessing means and the remote location and ' : for generating the command signals to effect the transmission ,~
of the stored program identification signals. The communication ~.
link, in the billing system, including a compu~er at the remote location, may be established over non-dedic,ated ' -20 telephone lines and the program identification.code may be transmit~ed in a video portion of the scrambled program signal during a vertical retrace interval.
The accessing means of the billing system may include:
; (a) Means including automatic dialing signal generating means at the subscriber station connected to nondedicated telephone lines for initiating ~L37~:~S
telephone connection of the subscriber station to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines.
~b) Means for selectively conditioning the initiating means on a selection basis that is time de-terminable ; in order to effect the connection of th~ subscriber station to the remote loca~ion over the nondedicated telephone lines while minimi~ing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the subscriber station.
(c) Means at the subscriber station for effecting the transfer of program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the connection made between the stations on ~-; the nondedicated telephone lines.
(d) Means at the remote location for receiving and storing the transferred codes.
The billing system may also lnclude means for -accumulating data at. the remote location over nondedicated 23 telephone lines connected to a telephone set at the subscriber station while minimizing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the telephone -~
set. The means for accumulating data comprise:
(a) A selectively operable telephone dialing means connected to the nondedicated telephone lines a-t ; the subscriber station.
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1~37~Z15 (b) Means at the subscriber station connected to the dialing means for initiating the transmission of a predetermined pat-tern o:E sequential, periodic telephone dialing signa].s over the telephone lines to thereb~ place a call from the subscrlber station to the remote location over the telephone lines.
(c) Means for selectivel~v conditioning the initiating means at a time when the telephone set at the subscriber station is not normally in use in order to effect the transmission of the pattern oE
; telephone dialing signals over the telephone lines and thereby initiate the transm.ission of telephone ringin~ signals to the remote location.
(d) Means at the remote location for automatically receiving and answering the telephone ringing signals to place the remote location in connection ; over the nondedicated telephone lines with the subscriber station initiating the ringing signals.
(e) Means at the subscriber station for detecting the answering of the ringing signals by the remote location;
(f) Means at the subscriber station for transferring program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines in response to the answer detecting means.
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(g) Means at the remote location for receiving and storing the transferred codes.
In the bi.lling system including means for accumulating data at the remote location, the condit:ioning means may be operated on a ti.me-selected basis by tim.in~ means at the remot~ location that periodically enable the initiating means at predete.rmined time intervals and at predetermined times of day when the telephone lines at the remote location are not normally in use so as to initiate a call from the remote location to the central location at the times of day at the time intervals.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the : present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed descriptlon when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.
B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a subscription or pay television system in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a signal diagram illustratihg an exemplary form of the video portion of the program signal with scramble and program ID codes as utilized in the system of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating the central transmitting station of Figure 1 ln greater detail;
Figure 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the subscriber station equipment of Figure 1 in greater detail;
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~137ZlS
Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of a pre-ferred form of the access unit and billing processor of Figure l; and, Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating in greater detail the embodiment of the access unit and billing processor of Figure 5.
D~TAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to Figure 1, the system according to the present invention generally comprises central station equipment 10 which supplies program signals in a scrambled form to subscriber station equipment 12 at each of the sub-scriber stations. As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the scrambled program signal includes scrambled audlo and video signals as well as various synchronizing signals and codes. The scrambled program signal SPROG is supplied to the subscribers either by conventional broadcast or cable techniques.
The audio and video signals from a conventional source such as television camera equipment are applied to a program signal scrambler 14 to produce respective scrambled audio and video signals SAUD and SVID. In addition, the program signal scrambler 14 provides a transmitted scramble code TSC for transmission with the scrambled proyram audio ....... . . . ...
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~L3~2~5 video signals. The SAUD, SVID and TSC signals from the scrambler 14 are provided to a suitable conventional transmitter 16 for production of a scrambled prograrn signal that includes the code signals and for transmis-sion to subscriber stations.
A program ID code unit 18 synchronized with the scrambled video signal and scramble code provides a program code TPC for transmission with the program signals. This program ID code TPC is combined with the scrambled program video and the scramble code for transmission to the subscriber as is described hereinafter in greater detail. In addition, the central station,equipment 10 may include a billing data gathering computer 20. It should however be understood that the billing data gathering computer 20 may be located at any convenient central location and need not be located at the transmitting site~
The scrambled program signal SPROG from the central station equip-ment 10 is received by a program signal receiver 22 at the subscriber station and the received signal is supplied both to a program signal unscrambler 24 and to a control and storage unit 26. The program signal unscrambler 24 operates in response to control signals from the control and storage unit 26 to unscramble the lncoming program signal and provide unscrambled audio and video signals UAUD and UVID to a conventional modulator 28. The modulator 28 modulates a carrier signal of an appropriate carrier frequency with the unscrambled audio and video signals and supplies the unscrambled program signal in the form of a modulated carrier wave to the television , , : ; ~ . , , :
~37~2~S
antenna terminals for use by the subscriber's television set in a conventional manner.
A subscriber control unit 30 provicles subscriber control o~ program viewing. The subscriber control unit 30 may, for example, include one or more subscriber manipulated controls which permit the subscriber to selectively tune a conventional tuner in the program signal receiver 22 in order to select a desired program as well as to provide appropriate signals to the control and storage unit 26 indicating that the subscriber has selected a program for viewing and has thus assumed the obligation to pay that program.
The control and storage unit 26 detects code signals in the incoming scrarnbled program signal for unscrambling and billing purposes. In this respect, the transmitted scrambled code TSC is detected by the control and storage unit 26 and compared to a received scramble code RSC supplied to the control and storage unit through an access unit 32 and stored in the control and storage unit. The control and storag~e unit 26 also detects the transmitted program code TPC in the incoming program signal and stores the program code of a particular program being viewed. The stored program code SPC is then supplied on command to the access unit 32. As illustrated, the access unit 32 is connected to telephone lines which are in turn connect-able through conventional telephone switching equipment to the telephone lines leading to the biLling data gathering computer 20.
, ~3~
In operat;on, the audio ancl video program signals are supplied to the progrslm signal scrambler 1-~ and are scram~led in any suitable co~-ventional manner. For example, these signals may he scrambled inaccordance with the techniques clescribed in United States Patent 3, 82~, 33 through selective inversion of portions of the video signal. The scramble code TSC may be inserted into the vicleo signal in order to permit unscrambling of the progrclm signals at the subscriber station as is set forth in patent No.
3, 824, 332.
In addition, each program that is transmitted in a scrambled form may be identified by placing a program code TPC in the video signal during the vertical retrace interval of the signal or at any other convenient location.
In this connection, the program code and scramble code may be cornbinedwith the program video at the appropriate locations by synchronizing the generation of these codes with the video synchronizing signals in any known manner such as that shown in the referenced patent No. 3, 824, 332.
The program signal transmitter 16 combines the video and code signals and transmits this combined signal together with the audio signal at an appropriate carrier frequency. The resultant video portion of the program signal may thus take the form illustrated in Figure 2. For example, as is illustrated in Figure 2, the successive horizontal lines of the video signal are conventionally separated by horizontal synchronization pulses and each frame of video signals is separated by a vertical retrace interval or vertical synchronization signal. During the vertical retrace interval, various equalizing and synchronization pulses are provided and it is in this interval that the scramble and program ID codes are preferably combined with the transmitted program signal. These cocles are prefera~ly encoded in a 372~LS
digital form as illustrated in Figure 2 although it should be understood that any well known codiny technique such as the tone burst technique described in U.S. Patent 3,824,332 may be utilized.
With continued reference to Figures 1 and 2, the transmitted program video signal is thus in the form of a scrambled signal (e.g., with selected frames of video inform-ation inverted) with codes inserted at appropriate locations to identify the program being transmitted and to indicate to the subscriber equipment the state of the subsequent video signal (i.e., inverted or non-inverted). The program signal receiver 22 selects a particular carrier frequency through the use of a conventional tuner and demodulates the incoming program signal to recover the audio, video and code signals.
The recovered scrambled program signal is supplied to the program signal unscrambler 24 and to the control and storage unit 26 for unscrambling and detection of the codes contained in the video portion of the program signal. The scramble codes detected in the program signal are used to generate the control signals that control the unscrambling of the program signal by the unscrambler 24. The program code in the incoming video signal is stored in a storage unit that may be selectively accessed by an access unit 32. The access unit 32 may be, for example, of the type disclosed hereinafter in connection with Figures 5 and 6.
; It will be appreciated that the invention provides a relatively simple manner of subscriber billing that allows for the identification of programs actually viewed and the rapid gathering of this information on a periodic basis long after a program has been viewed~ Each subscriber station is selectively . :
, ~, accessed so that program viewing information in association with subscriber identification information is available at a central location for billing purposes.
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Moreover, the IJilling gatherirlg computer 20 has complete control over the ~ubscril~er station equipment 12 in the sense that it can deny new scramble codes to the subscriber station equipment on a selective basis if that par-ticular subscriber has not paid his bill or for other relevant reasons.
To facilitate an understanclin~ o~ the present invention, the central station equipment 10 and the subscriber equipment 12 are illustrated in greater detail in Figures 3 and ~L, respectively.
Referring to Figure 3, the central station equipment receives the unscrambled program signal UPROG including the audio and video portions.
The audio portion is applied to a program audio scrambler 40 and the video portion is applied to both a program video scrambler 42 and to a video sync detector 44. The video sync detector 44 detects an appropriate synchroniza-tion pulse in the video signal, e. g., the vertical sync pulses, and supplies the sync pulse to a scramble code generator 46 and to the program ID code unit 18. The scramble code generator 4~ supplies a video scramble control signal ~7CS to the program video scrambler 42 and an audio scramble control signal ACS to the program audio scrambler 40. The program signal is thus scrambled to produce a scrambled audio signal SAUD and a scrambled video signal SVID in a conventional manner. In addition, the scramble code TSC
is generated by the scramble code generator 46 so as to identify the manner in which the program signal has been scrambled.
As was previously mentioned, the program ID code unit 18 receives the sync signal from the video sync detector 44 and generates the program code signal TPC. In this connection, a program ID code selector 48 may be provided to control the generation of a particular program code by a program ID code generator 50. Thus, the station operator can select a par-ticular code for a particular program in this manner.
`` 1~37Z~
'rhe scram~ d atl(lio an~l video sig~ ls togetllel with the scramblc(l code and program code are s-lpplic(3 to the scrambled program sigllal trans-mStter lG compris;n~ a signal combirler 52 ancl conventional modulators anc~transmitters 54. Tlle signal con~biner 5?. receives the scrambled video, seramble cocle and pro~ram eocle ';igllalS ancl combines these signals in a conventional manner to procluce a signal s~lcll as t~lat ill~lstrated in l~igure 2.
This combined signal is tllen appliecl to tlle modulators and transmitters 5ds together with the serambled audio signal for moclulation of these signals onto a suitable carrier wave for transmission.
It will thus be appreciated from the diagram of Figure 3 that the video syne detector 44 detects the appropriate synchronization pulse in the video signal in order to trigger the scramble code generator 46 and the program ID code generator 50 at appropriate times. ~or e~;ample, the video sync deteetor 4aS preferably detects the vertical sync pulse during the vertical retrace interval of the video signal. This vertical sync pulse triggers the scramble cocle generator 4G in order to cause the program video signal to be inverted or passed uninverted at an appropriate time. In addition, the cletected sync signal triggers the scramble code generator and the program ID code generator in order to synchronize the generation of the scramble code 20 and program code signals TSC and TPC witll the occurrence of the vertical retrace interval. The audio scramble control signal ACS generated by the ~-scramble code generator 46 may be any suitable control signal and need not be synchronized to the video synchronization pulses.
The signal connbiner 52 conventionally combines the video and code signals and the modulators and transmit~ers 5~ provide appropriate modulated signals for either broadcast or cable transmission.
Referring now to Figure ~, the program signal receiver 22 at the ~subscriber station may include a conventional turler 5G and a conventional '~ ~
~.~L3~215i democlulator 58. 'rhe scrambled program signaL is supplied to the tuner 56 and to the dennoclulator 58 for recovery of the scramblecI audio and scrambled video signals. The scrambled video signal, of course, contains the program ancI seramble eodes in adclition to video information. Control of the tuner 56 ancI thus selection ol` a particular carrier frequency may be aecomplished in a eonventional manner by a control Icnob on the subscriber control unit 30.
The eontrol unit 30 may therefore be referred to as a program seleet and aeeept eontrol sinee this control also may provide for the application of an aeeept signal ACC to the control and storage unit 26 as an indication that the subscriber has assumed the obligation to pay for a particular program to whieh the equipment is tuned.
The serambled audio signal is supplied to a program audio unserambler 60 and the scrambled video signal is supplied both to a program video un-seramhler 62 and to a eode deteetor 64 in the control and storage unit 26.
The eode detector 64, when enabled by the accept signal ACC9 detects the reeeived scramble code RSC and the received program eode in the video signal. The received scrambled code is supplied to a scramble code eomparator 66 and the reeeived program eode is supplled to a eonventional signal storage device 68 for storage and later reeall by the aeeess unit 32.
The scramble code comparator 66 receives a stored scramble code signal SSC from the signal storage device 68 and generates the video and audio unseramble control signals VCS' and ACS', respectively. These two signals are supplied to the respective program video unscrambler 62 and the program audio unserambler 60 in order to reeonstitute the scrambled video and audio signals to their original form prior to serambling by the program signal serambler 14 at the eentral station equiDment. This unserambling proeess may take the form, for example, of that illustrated and deseribed in previously ~ 15 -~37Z~5 referenced U.S. Patent 3,824,332. Thus, for example, when the received scramble code RSC is compared to the stores scramble code SSC and is identified as an invert signal, the VCS' signal causes the program video unscrambler 62 to invert the subsequent frame of video signals. Similarly, when the received scramble code is compared with the stored scramble code and is identified as a non-invert signal, the video signal is passed by the program video unscrambler 62 in an uninverted form.
The access unit 32 is connected to the telephone lines as was previously described and provides access between the billing data gathering computer 20 and the signal storage device 68. The subscriber station equipment may be accessed in any one of the various ways disclosed hereafter in connec-tion with Figures 5 and 6 such as through the timed placement of a call from the access unit 32 to the computer 20 (e.g., the placement of a call on a monthly basis). Similarly, when the signal storage device 68 is full and can store no more program codes, the access unit 32 may place a call to the ~- 20 data gathering computer 20 to transfer billing information ~ thereto~
;~ In this connection, the computer 20 and access unit 32 may be connected over the telephone lines through conven-tional telephone switching equipment as commanded either from ` the access unit 32 or from the computer 20. After the con-nection is effected between the computer 20 and the access unit 32, various data may be transmitted over the telephone lines.
The computer 20 may, for example, initially command 30 the access unit 32 to transmit the stored program code signals - ]6 - .
~372~5 SPC from the signal storage device 68 to the computer 20.
This may be accomplished ln any suitable manner as, for example, by sending a code to the access unit 32 and gener-ating an interrogate or read signal INT which causes the signal storage device 68 to supply the stored program codes SPC to the telephone lines and therefore to the computer 20.
Similarly, the computer 20 may transmit a code to the access unit 32 commanding it to generate a strobe or right signal STR in order to transmit new scramble codes RSC through the 10 access unit to the signal storage device 68. During normal operation, then, the signal storage device may be supplied with scramble codes for one month's programs and at the end of that month new scramble codes may be supplied for the next month's programming. At the same time, the program codes stored in the signal storage device 68 may be accessed and transferred to the computer 20 so that the subscriber may be billed for actual programs viewed during the preceding month at various rates for various programs.
Figure 5 illustrates a telephone access system according to the invention in which a telephone call to con-nect a billing processor to a remote terminal or data accumu lator is made to the central station 10 from the subscriber's station 12 by way of non-dedicated telephone lines 114. The connection between the two stations is effected through com-mercially installed telephone system switching equipment 116 by conventional dialing signals produced at the subscriber's station 12 as will hereinafter be described in detail.
The central station 10 includes the billing processor 20, or billing data gathering computer 20, a telephone answer-ing apparatus 120 and a telephone station or set 122. The ~3~2~i receipt of a subscriber's call at the telephone set 122operates in a conventional manner through the call answering apparatus 120 to connect the billing processor 20 to the telephone lines 114. The billing processor 20 then operates in a conventional manner to identify the subscriber and receive the information from the subscriber's remote terminal or data accumulator. Additional central stations such as the station 10' may also be provided to receive data from the subscriber's station 12.
The subscriber's station 12 includes a telephone set 124 and a preconditioning circuit 126 which conditions control apparatus 128 to operate telephone dialing apparatus 130 to make connection of a remote terminal or data accumu-lator 132 with the central station 10. In this connection, the control apparatus 128, the telephone dialing apparatus 130 and the remote terminal 132 are connected across (i.e., in parallel with) the non-dedicated telephone lines 114 which - are installed to the telephone set 124. The preconditioning circuit 126 provides a precondition signal PC to the control 20 apparatus 128 and, as will be described hereinafter in detail, may also supply data selection signals SEL to the telephone dialing apparatus 130 and to the remote terminal 132. The control apparatus supplies a READ signal to the remote terminal 132 and also supplies timed trigger signals Tl-T7 to the dialing apparatus 130.
In operation, the system of Figure 5 permits normal operation of the subscriber's telephone 124. The telephone set 124 will be out of normal operation only during the few seconds in a billing period that the control apparatus 128 30 places the remote terminal 132 in connection with the central station 10.
~372~5 As will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the preconditioning circuit 126 trlggers or enables the operation of the control apparatus 128 periodically either on a timed basis (e.~., once a month at a time when the telephone set is not normally in use) or upon receipt oE some externally applied command signal CMD as .illustxated in phantom. The control apparatus 128 supplies the trigger signals Tl-T7 to operate the telephone dialing apparatus 130 and place a call to a selected one of the central stations 10 and 10'.
The call is placed by the telephone dialing appar-atus 130 under the control of the control apparatus 128 by applying a conventional "dialing" signal (e.g., an inter-rupter type dial signal or a multi-tone signal) to the tele-phone lines. The "dialing" signals are received by the tele-phone switching equipment 116. The call is routed to the appropriate central station by the telephone switching equip-ment 116 placing a "ringing" signal on the appropriate non-dedicated lines 114 and the call is answered automatically in a~conventional manner by the answering apparatus 120. A "go 20 ahead" signal lS then placed on the telephone lines 114 lead-ing to the subscriber's station 12 to indicate that the call has been answered~ The billing processor 20 may also place an encoded "go ahead" signal on the lines 114 so as to provide a "go ahead" code unique to the billing system for detection at the subscriber's station making the call.
When the call has been answered by the answering apparatus 120 at the central station, the control apparatus 128 at the subscriber's station 12 applies the READ signal to the remote terminal 132. A data accumulator in the remote 30 terminal is then connected across the telephone lines 114 and ~372~S
the data ln the accumulator, together with a code unique to the calling subscriber's station, is transmitted to the cen-tral terminal 10 over the non-dedicated telephone lines.
Where more than one data accumulator is provided in the remote terminal 132, the SEL signal selects the desired data accumu-lator and the data in that accumulator is read and transmitted to the central station. The SEL signal may also provide selectivity in placing a call to one of several central stations as will subsequently be described.
Referring now to Figure 6 wherein one form of the present invention is illustrated in greater detail, the pre-conditioning circuit 126 provides the PC signal to the set input terminal S of a binary multivibrator or flip flop 134 and to one input terminal of a two input terminal OR gate 136 in the control apparat~is 128. ~he output signal from the true or binary ONE output terminal Q of the 1ip Elop 134 is applied ;~
to one input terminal of the two input terminal AND gate 138 and the output signal from the AND gate 138 is applied to the enable input termlnal ENB of a conventionaI oscillator 140.
The output signal from the oscillator 140 is applied to the clock input terminal CL of a conventional seven-stage shift register 142.
~; The output signal from the OR gate 136 is applied to the reset input terminal R of the shift register 142 and to the set input terminal S of a blnary multivibrator or flip flop 144. The output signal from the true output term-inal Q of the flip flop 144 is applied to the data input terminal D of the shift register 142. The output signal from the first stage of the shift register 142 is applied to the reset input terminal R of the flip flop 144 and the output ~l~37Z~5 signal from the seventh stage of the shift register 142 is supplied through an invertor 146 to the second input terminal of the AND gate 138. The output signal from the seventh stage of the shift register 142 is also applied to one input terminal of a two input terminal AND gate 148 and to one input terminal of a two input terminal AND gate 150.
The output signal from the AND 148 is applied to the enable input terminal of a conventional timer 152 and the out-put signal from the timer 152 is applied to the second input 10 terminal of the OR gate 136. A go ahead detector 154 is con-nected across the non-dedicated telephone lines 114 and the output signal from the detector 154 is supplied to the second input terminal of the AND gate 150, through an inverter 156 to the second input terminal of the AND gate 148 and to trigger input terminal T of a conventional timer 158. The output signal from the timer 158 is applied to the reset input term-inal R of the flip flop 134.
The AND gate 150 in the control apparatus 128 gen-erates the READ signal which is supplied to the remote term-inal 132. More specifically, the READ signal is applied fromthe output terminal of the AND gate 150 to the READ enable input terminal RE of a conventional data accumulator 160 (e.g.
;~ a register or other suitable memory device) and through a conventional light emitting diode 162 to ground. The SPC
signal is applied to the data input terminal of the accumulator 160. The output terminals of the data accumulator 160 are connected through coupling capacitors 164 and 166 through a load resistor 168. The capacitor 164-resistor 168 junction is connected through a light responsive transistor (e.g., a phototransistor) to one side of the telephone lines 114 and .
the capacitor 166-resistor 168 junction is connected directly to the other side of the lines 114.
The RSC signals received over the lines 114 are coupled to the signal storage device 68 previously described from a suitable point in the access circuit (i.e., as illus-trated if a READ/WRITE sicJnal is used or directly Erom the telephone lines if other control means is used. In this regard, it should be noted that the INT and STR control sig-nals previously mentioned may be utilized to control inter-10 rogation of and storage by the storage device 68 of Figure 4.These signals may be conventionally generated by a suitable decoder 161 connected to the telephone lines.
The shift register 142 of the control apparatus 128 supplies the Tl-T7 trigger signals to the telephone dialing apparatus 140. Specifically, the signals Tl~T7 from the respective first through seventh stages of the shift register 142 are supplied to a conventional steering matrix 170 in the telephone dialing apparatus 130. The steering matrix 170 supplies tone selection signals TSl-TS10 to a suitable con-20 ventional tone generator 172 and the output terminals of thetone generator 172 are connected across the telephone lines 114.
In operation, the preconditioning circuit 126 period-ically generates the PC signal on a timed basis or otherwise as described hereinafter. The PC signal sets the flip flop 134, operates a line capture circuit 178 through NOR gates 174 and 176, and also sets the flip flop 144 through the OR gate 136. The setting of the flip flop 134 enables the AND gate 138, enabling the oscillator 140. The setting of flip flop 134 also enables the tone generator 172 via OR gate 181.
30 Since the flip flop 144 is also set, a binary ONE output signal ~3~2~5 is supplied to the data input terminal D of the shift register 142 and the first clock signal from the oscillator 140 shifts the binary ONE into the first stage of the shift register 142.
The flip flop 144 is thereafter reset and the binary ONE is shifted the length of the shift register 142 by the oscillator 140 output siynal.
As the binary ONE signal is shifted through the register 142, the signals Tl-T7 sequentially assume high and then low signal levels. The steering matrix 170 is preset to 10 generate a predetermined sequence of tone selection signals TSl-TS10 in response to this sequential triggering so that the tone generator 172 generates a predetermined dialing signal associated with the telephone number of a particular central station. Accordingly, as the binary ONE signal is shifted along the shift register 142, the tone generator 172 places a series of dialing tones on the non-dedicated tele-phone lines 114 and the call is placed to the particular central station desired.
~` When the binary ONE signal is shifted into the 20 seventh stage of the shift register 142, the AND gate 138 is `~ inhibited, inhibiting the oscillator 140 and preventing further shifting of the shift reglster 142. The binary ONE signal in the seventh stage of the shift register 142 enables the AND
gates 148 and 150 and, since a "go ahead" signal is not ` immediately detected by the detector 154, the timer 152 is enabled. If the timer 152 times out before a "go ahead" sig-nal is received, a binary ONE output pulse signal is produced by the timer 152 on lead 153 and the control apparatus is reset so that a call is again placed to the central station 30 as was previously described. The output pulse from timer 152 ~L372~
also momentarily disconnects line capture 178 so that the telephone switching equipment is set up to properly receive the next dialing sequence.
If the "cJo ahead" signal is received before the timer 152 times out, the ~ND gate 148 is inhibited by the signal from the go ahead detector 154 and the AND gate 150 is enabled. The tone generator 172 is disabled via OR gate 181.
The timer 152 places a "stop sequence" pulse on line 155 after a predetermined number of sequences with no go-ahead signal to reset the flip flop 134 by way of the OR gate 183.
Enabling of the AND gate 150 by the signal from the go ahead detector 154 produces the READ signal which energizes the light emitting diode 162, causing the phototransistor 169 to become conductive. This effectively places the resistor 168 across the telephone lines 114. At the same time the READ
signal enables the data accumulator 160 by, for example, enabling a clock signal in the data accumulator 160 to clock the accumulated data onto the telephone lines 114 through the coupling capacitors 164 and 166. The data accumulated by the accumulator 160 is thus applied to the telephone lines 114 and is transmitted to the central station over the non-dedicated telephone lines. In addition, an address signal or other coded signal is transmitted to the central station so that the data received by the central station can be associated with the transmitting subscriber station. This address signal may be permanently stored in the data accumulator and may be clocked onto the telephone lines 114 every time data is transmitted.
The timer 158 is triggered upon receipt of the "go ahead" signal by the go ahead detector 154. The timer 158 times out over a period slightly greater than the longest 3~Z~;
expected time required for emptying the data accumulator 160.
When the timer 158 times out, the flip flop 134 is reset via OR gate 183 so that the control apparatus 128 is prepared for the next preconditioning signal PC supplied by the precondi-tioning circuit 126.
The control apparatus 128 may be arranged to seize the telephone lines 114 (i.e., provide the telephone system with an "off-hook" indication so that a call may be placed) in any suitable conventional matter other than that illus-trated. For example, the signal PC from the preconditioningcixcuit 126 may be provided to a conventional electromechan-, ical device which actually lifts the receiver of the telephone set 124 off the hook switch. A]ternatively, the output signal from the flip flop 134 may be utilized to trigger the illustrated line capture circuit 178 or any other conventional circuit connected across the telephone lines 114 to seize the lines for placement of a call in a conventional manner.
J , ~
`
, :' . ' , ': ' ,' , . ' :
' ' ' '.' ' ~" .
~: ' " ' ' ' ' :
. . ~ , :: ,: .
..' '~:, . , ~-'' :
' -~.~L37Z~5 In addition, it should be understood that the pre-conditloning circuit 126 is preferably a clock that can be set by the central station ove.r the telephone lines 11~ when a connection is macle between the sta~ions. For example, part of the code receivecl fron~ the central station can include a binary number that represents a time period. This number can be re-ceived at the subscribers station and stored in the precondition-ing circuit for use in controlling the time interval between initiation of calls by the control apparatus 128. Thus, for example, if a subscriber has not paid his bill when new codes are supplied at the end of a month, the cloc} may be set for one week at which time, if the bill is still not paid, no more codes required for unscrambling will be supplied.
From the foregoing descriptlon, it will be made clear that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not re-strictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meanin~ and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims (8)
1. A billing system for obtaining billing information regarding programs actually viewed by a subscriber of a pay television system comprising:
means for transmitting at a predetermined carrier frequency a scrambled television program signal con-taining a block of television program material and an identification code unique to the block of program material being transmitted;
means at a subscriber station for selectively receiving the transmitted program signal and for selectively unscrambling the program signal to permit viewing of the block of program material being trans-mitted in response to subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material;
means for detecting the identification code in the program signal received at the subscriber station and for temporarily storing a program identification code for subsequent transmission as an electrical signal in response to the detected identification code and to the subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material; and means connected to said detecting and storing means for selectively accessing the program identi-fication code stored at the subscriber station on other than a real time basis and for transmitting the stored program identification signal to a remote location in response to a command signal received from the remote location to thereby provide billing information at the remote location as to programs actually viewed by the subscriber.
means for transmitting at a predetermined carrier frequency a scrambled television program signal con-taining a block of television program material and an identification code unique to the block of program material being transmitted;
means at a subscriber station for selectively receiving the transmitted program signal and for selectively unscrambling the program signal to permit viewing of the block of program material being trans-mitted in response to subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material;
means for detecting the identification code in the program signal received at the subscriber station and for temporarily storing a program identification code for subsequent transmission as an electrical signal in response to the detected identification code and to the subscriber action indicating acceptance for viewing of the block of program material; and means connected to said detecting and storing means for selectively accessing the program identi-fication code stored at the subscriber station on other than a real time basis and for transmitting the stored program identification signal to a remote location in response to a command signal received from the remote location to thereby provide billing information at the remote location as to programs actually viewed by the subscriber.
2. The billing system of claim 1 wherein the program identification code is transmitted in a video portion of the scrambled program signal during a vertical retrace interval.
- 26a -
- 26a -
3. The billing system of claim 1 including a computer at the remote location for selectively establishing a communication link between the accessing means and the remote location and for generating said command signals to effect the transmission of said stored program identification signals.
4. The billing system of claim 3 wherein the communication link is established over non-dedicated telephone lines.
5. The billing system of claim 4 wherein the program identification code is transmitted in a video portion of the scrambled program signal during a vertical retrace interval.
6. The system of claim 1 further including means for accumulating data at the remote location over nondedicated telephone lines connected to a telephone set at the subscriber station while minimizing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the telephone set comprising:
a selectively operable telephone dialing means connected to the nondedicated telephone lines at the subscriber station;
means at the subscriber station connected to said dialing means for initiating the transmission of a predetermined pattern of sequential, periodic telephone dialing signals over the telephone lines to thereby place a call from the subscriber station to the remote location over the telephone lines;
means for selectively conditioning said init-iating means at a time when the telephone set at the subscriber station is not normally in use in order to effect the transmission of said pattern of telephone dialing signals over the telephone lines and thereby initiate the transmission of telephone ringing signals to the remote location;
means at the remote location for automatically receiving and answering the telephone ringing signals to place the remote location in connection over the nondedicated telephone lines with the subscriber station initiating said ringing signals;
means at the subscriber station for detecting the answering of the ringing signals by the remote location;
means at the subscriber station for transferring program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the non-dedicated telephone lines in response to said answer detecting means; and, means at the remote location for receiving and storing said transferred codes.
a selectively operable telephone dialing means connected to the nondedicated telephone lines at the subscriber station;
means at the subscriber station connected to said dialing means for initiating the transmission of a predetermined pattern of sequential, periodic telephone dialing signals over the telephone lines to thereby place a call from the subscriber station to the remote location over the telephone lines;
means for selectively conditioning said init-iating means at a time when the telephone set at the subscriber station is not normally in use in order to effect the transmission of said pattern of telephone dialing signals over the telephone lines and thereby initiate the transmission of telephone ringing signals to the remote location;
means at the remote location for automatically receiving and answering the telephone ringing signals to place the remote location in connection over the nondedicated telephone lines with the subscriber station initiating said ringing signals;
means at the subscriber station for detecting the answering of the ringing signals by the remote location;
means at the subscriber station for transferring program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the non-dedicated telephone lines in response to said answer detecting means; and, means at the remote location for receiving and storing said transferred codes.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said conditioning means is operated on a time-selected basis by timing means at the remote location that periodically enables said initiating means at predetermined time intervals and at predetermined times of day when the telephone lines at the remote location are not normally in use so as to initiate a call from the remote location to the central location at said times of day at said time intervals.
8. The billing system of claim 1 wherein said accessing means includes:
means including automatic dialing signal generating means at the subscriber station connected to nondedicated telephone lines for initiating telephone connection of the subscriber station to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines;
means for selectively conditioning said initiating means on a selection basis that is time determinable in order to effect the connection of the subscriber station to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines while minimizing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the subscriber station;
means at the subscriber station for effecting the transfer of program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the connection made between the stations on the nondedicated telephone lines; and means at the remote location for receiving and storing the transferred codes.
means including automatic dialing signal generating means at the subscriber station connected to nondedicated telephone lines for initiating telephone connection of the subscriber station to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines;
means for selectively conditioning said initiating means on a selection basis that is time determinable in order to effect the connection of the subscriber station to the remote location over the nondedicated telephone lines while minimizing the possibility of interference with normal telephone service to the subscriber station;
means at the subscriber station for effecting the transfer of program identification codes from the detecting and storing means to the remote location over the connection made between the stations on the nondedicated telephone lines; and means at the remote location for receiving and storing the transferred codes.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR7807457A FR2420261A1 (en) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-03-15 | Invoicing system for pay TV sets - transmits cost information code signals in frame flyback time and controls accumulator reading via normal telephone connection |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1137215A true CA1137215A (en) | 1982-12-07 |
Family
ID=9205813
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000297131A Expired CA1137215A (en) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-02-16 | Method and system for subscription television billing and access |
| CA000407688A Expired CA1152662A (en) | 1978-03-15 | 1982-07-20 | Method and system for subscription television billing and access |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000407688A Expired CA1152662A (en) | 1978-03-15 | 1982-07-20 | Method and system for subscription television billing and access |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1137215A (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2420261A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4599644A (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1986-07-08 | Peter Fischer | Method of and apparatus for monitoring video-channel reception |
| US5319453A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1994-06-07 | Airtrax | Method and apparatus for video signal encoding, decoding and monitoring |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4700386A (en) * | 1985-06-14 | 1987-10-13 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Technique for promoting CATV pay-per-view events and acknowledging subscriber orders |
| CA2179973C (en) | 1995-06-30 | 2002-03-05 | Takayuki Nagashima | Image transmission apparatus, image transmission system, and communication apparatus |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3676580A (en) * | 1970-06-01 | 1972-07-11 | Video Information Systems | Interrogated transponder system |
| US3751670A (en) * | 1971-05-11 | 1973-08-07 | Telebeam Corp | Subscription communication system |
| US3919462A (en) * | 1973-08-15 | 1975-11-11 | System Dev Corp | Method and apparatus for scrambling and unscrambling communication signals |
| SE391250B (en) * | 1974-11-26 | 1977-02-07 | Saab Scania Ab | SECURITY SYSTEM, INCLUDING A CENTRAL UNIT, SOMŸVIA A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL IS CONNECTED WITH SEVERAL LOCAL TERMINAL UNITS |
| US4024574A (en) * | 1975-02-26 | 1977-05-17 | Teleglobe Pay Tv System Inc. | Validation method and apparatus for pay television systems |
| US4068264A (en) * | 1976-07-19 | 1978-01-10 | Teleglobe Pay-Tv System, Inc. | Pay television system utilizing binary coding |
| US4044376A (en) * | 1976-08-13 | 1977-08-23 | Control Data Corporation | TV monitor |
-
1978
- 1978-02-16 CA CA000297131A patent/CA1137215A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-03-15 FR FR7807457A patent/FR2420261A1/en active Granted
-
1982
- 1982-07-20 CA CA000407688A patent/CA1152662A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4599644A (en) * | 1983-05-25 | 1986-07-08 | Peter Fischer | Method of and apparatus for monitoring video-channel reception |
| US5319453A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1994-06-07 | Airtrax | Method and apparatus for video signal encoding, decoding and monitoring |
| US5646675A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1997-07-08 | Airtrax | System and method for monitoring video program material |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2420261A1 (en) | 1979-10-12 |
| CA1152662A (en) | 1983-08-23 |
| FR2420261B1 (en) | 1984-11-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 19991207 |