CATV PROGRAM CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,790,700 A
• Filed: 12/17/1971
• Issued: 02/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Forbes F. Douglas, Harry M. Taxin, Herbert Eisenberg, John B. Frost, Richard T. Callais, Thomas J. Kosco
• Original Assignee: Forbes F. Douglas, Harry M. Taxin, Herbert Eisenberg, John B. Frost, Richard T. Callais, Thomas J. Kosco
• Inventors: Callais, Richard T., Forbes, F. Douglas, Kosco, Thomas J., Eisenberg, Herbert, Taxin, Harry M., Frost, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buczinski, S. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/209,222
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 178/5.1,DIG.13 325/308,309,55,66
• US Class Current: 725/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17363 at or near the user terminal

Abstract

A system for controlling CATV program viewing in a plurality of modes of operation. In a first mode of operation, a downstream digital transmission causes control means to develop first binary data for comparison in a comparator with selected-channel code data from channel means to enable a first circuit to allow a first or second category program to be selected and received by a subscriber during a predetermined temporary period of time. In a second mode of operation the enabling of a second circuit by the subscriber will only cause the control means to be enabled if the subscriber is authorized to receive that selected first category program. In a third mode of operation the enabling of the second circuit by the subscriber will enable a third circuit to allow a selected second category program to be received. In a fourth mode of operation the selection of a third category program by the subscriber will enable a fourth circuit to allow that selected third category program to be received.

Claims

1. In a subscription television network for supplying subscription television programs to a plurality of subscription television sites, each site including a selective gating circuit, a system at each site for controlling the operation of the selective gating circuit, said system comprising:

first means responsive to digital data for generating channel enabling data for at least one subscription television program on an associated predetermined subscription television channel during a first mode of operation, said first means including a video register for storing said channel enabling data;

second means for developing channel selection data in response to the selection of a subscription television channel;

third means coupled to said first and second means and to the selective gating circuit for generating a first enabling signal when the predetermined subscription channel is the selected channel during the first mode of operation, the selective gating circuit responding to the first enabling signal for allowing the selected subscription television program to pass; and

fourth means for generating a request signal in response to a selection of a first category subscription television program on a preselected channel in a second mode of operation to cause said first means to subsequently generate channel enabling data for the preselected channel if the subscription television site is authorized to receive the first category program.

2. The system of claim 1 further including:

fifth means, coupled to the selective gating circuit and said fourth means, being responsive to the request signal in a third mode of operation for generating a second enabling signal to allow the selective gating circuit to pass a second category subscription television program.

3. The system of claim 2 further including:

sixth means, coupled to the selective gating circuit, being responsive to the selection of a non-subscription channel in a fourth mode of operation for generating a third enabling signal to allow the selective gating circuit to pass a non-subscription program.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first means includes:

a control logic circuit responsive to the digital data for developing updated data; and

a storage within said video register circuit, coupled to said control logic circuit, being responsive to the updated data for developing old data indicative of the subscription channels that are enabled.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein:

said storage circuit includes output means for applying the old data to said control logic circuit; and

said control logic circuit includes logic means responsive to the digital data and the old data for developing the updated data as a function of the mode of operation.

6. The system of claim 3 further including:

an output circuit having an output coupled to the selective gating circuit and inputs coupled to said third, fifth and sixth means for selectively allowing the first, second and third enabling signals to pass to the selective gating circuit.

7. In a subscription television network controlled by a processing center, a system for controlling the operation of a subscriber'"'"''"'"'s television converter, said system comprising:

first means responsive to control data from the processing center for generating channel enabling data for at least one predetermined subscription channel during a first mode of operation, said first means including a control logic circuit responsive to the control data from the processing center for developing updated data and a storage circuit responsive to the updated data for Developing old data indicative of the subscription channels that are enabled and for storing the channel enabling data;

second means for developing channel selection data in response to the selection of a subscription channel; and

third means coupled to said first and second means and to the converter for generating a first enabling signal when the predetermined subscription channel is the selected channel during the first mode of operation, the converter responding to the first enabling signal for allowing a subscription television program to pass on the selected predetermined subscription channel.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein:

said storage circuit includes output means for applying the old data to said control logic circuit; and

said control logic circuit includes logic means responsive to the digital control data from the processing center and the old data for developing the updated data as a function of the mode of operation.

9. In a subscription television network controlled by a processing center, a system for controlling the operation of a subscriber'"'"''"'"'s television converter, said system comprising:

first means responsive to control data from the processing center for generating channel enabling data for at least one predetermined subscription channel during a first mode of operation, said first means including a video register for storing the channel enabling data;

second means for developing channel selection data in response to the selection of a subscription channel;

third means coupled to said first and second means and to the converter for generating a first enabling signal when the predetermined subscription channel is the selected channel during the first mode of operation, the converter responding to the first enabling signal for allowing a subscription television program to pass on the selected predetermined subscription channel; and

fourth means for generating a request signal in response to a selection of a first category subscription television program on a preselected channel in a second mode of operation, the processing center being responsive to the request signal for causing said first means to subsequently generate channel enabling data for the preselected channel if the subscriber is authorized to receive the first category program.

10. In a subscription television network controlled by a processing center, a system for controlling the operation of a subscriber'"'"''"'"'s television converter, said system comprising:

first means responsive to control data from the processing center for generating channel enabling data for at least one predetermined subscription channel during a first mode of operation, said first means including a video register for storing said channel enabling data;

second means for developing channel selection data in response to the selection of a subscription channel;

third means coupled to said first and second means and to the converter for generating a first enabling signal when the predetermined subscription channel is the selected channel during the first mode of operation, the converter responding to the first enabling signal for allowing a subscription television program to pass on the selected predetermined subscription channel;

fourth means for generating a request signal in response to a selection of a first category subscription television program on a preselected channel in a second mode of operation, the processing center being responsive to the request signal for causing said first means to subsequently generate channel enabling data for the preselected channel if the subscriber is authorized to receive the first category program; and

fifth means, coupled to the converter and said fourth means, being responsive to the request signal in a third scription television site is authorized to receive the first category program.

11. The system of claim 10 further including:

sixth means, coupled to the converter, being responsive to the sElection of a non-subscription channel in a fourth mode of operation for generating a third enabling signal to allow the converter to pass a non-subscription program on the selected non-subscription channel.

12. The system of claim 11 further including:

an output circuit having an output coupled to the converter and inputs coupled to said third, fifth and sixth means for selectively allowing the first, second and third enabling signals to pass to the converter.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said first means includes:

a control logic circuit responsive to control data from the processing center for developing updated data; and

a storage circuit responsive to the updated data for developing old data indicative of the subscription channels that are enabled.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

said storage circuit includes output means for applying the old data to said control logic circuit; and

said control logic circuit includes logic means responsive to the control data from the processing center and the old data for developing the updated data as a function of the mode of operation.

15. The system of claim 14 further including:

an output circuit having an output coupled to the converter and inputs coupled to said third, fifth and sixth means for selectively allowing the first, second and third enabling signals to pass to the converter.

16. A system responsive to digital data from a remote processing center for controlling the operation of a CATV converter of a subscriber, said system comprising:

a storage circuit for storing channel data representative of enabled subscription TV channels;

a control circuit, coupled to the storage circuit, being responsive to the digital data from the processing center and channel data previously stored in the storage circuit for developing updated data as a function of the mode of operation, the updated data being stored as new channel data in said storage circuit;

a channel selector for developing a channel code representing whichever one of a plurality of channels that is selected;

a channel circuit coupled to said channel selector for developing channel selection data in response to the channel code;

a comparison circuit coupled to said storage circuit and to said channel circuit for generating a first enabling signal for a selected channel that is an enabled subscription TV channel;

an output circuit, coupled to said comparison circuit and to the converter, being responsive to the first enabling signal for allowing the converter to pass a selected subscription television program;

a first circuit for generating a first signal in response to a second signal indicative of the request for a selected subscription channel;

a second circuit, coupled to said first, output and channel circuits for generating a second enabling signal when the selected subscription channel is not restricted, said output circuit being responsive to the second enabling signal for allowing the converter to pass a selected non-restricted subscription television program; and

a third circuit, coupled to said output circuit, being responsive to the channel code for developing a third enabling signal when the selected channel is not a subscription channel, said output circuit being responsive to the third enabling signal for allowing the converter to pass a selected non-subscription television program.

17. In a CATV system controlled by a processing center for supplying subscription television programs to a plurality of subscription television sites, each site including a television converter and a channel selector control, a control system for controlling the operation of the converter comprising:

logic means responsive to control data from the processing center for storing channel enabling data indicative of whether at least one of a plurality of subscription channels is enabled;

channel means coupled to the channel selector control for developing channel sElection data indicative of whether one of the plurality of subscription channels is selected; and

first means coupled to the converter, said logic means and said channel means for generating a first enabling signal whenever a selected subscription channel is an enabled subscription channel, the converter responding to the first enabling signal for allowing the subscription television program on the selected subscription channel to pass.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said logic means comprises:

a storage circuit for storing channel enabling data; and

a control circuit coupled to the storage circuit, being responsive to the control data and to the channel enabling data for modifying the channel enabling data as a function of the control data.

19. The system of claim 17 further including:

a request control for generating a request signal when actuated by a subscriber; and

second means coupled to the converter and channel selector control and to said request control for generating a second enabling signal whenever the channel selector control is positioned to select a special category subscription program on a subscription channel of a first type and the request control is actuated, the converter responding to the second enabling signal for allowing the special category subscription program to be passed on the subscription channel of the first type.

20. The system of claim 17 further including:

a request control for generating a request signal when actuated by a subscriber; and

a first circuit coupled to the request control for generating a request signal in response to the selection of a first category subscription program on a selected subscription channel and to a signal from the request control, the request signal causing the processing center to generate control data if the subscription television site is authorized to receive the first category subscription television program on the selected subscription channel.

21. The system of claim 20 further including:

a second circuit, coupled to said channel means and to said first circuit, for generating a second enabling signal in response to the request signal whenever a second category subscription program on a subscription channel is selected, the converter responding to the second enabling signal for allowing the second category subscription program on the selected subscription channel to pass.

22. The system of claim 21 further including:

third means, coupled to the channel selector control, being responsive to the selection of a non-subscription channel for generating a third enabling signal, the converter responding to the third enabling signal for allowing the non-subscription program on the selected non-subscription channel to pass.

23. The system of claim 22 further including:

a gate circuit having an output coupled to the converter and inputs coupled to said first, second and third means for selectively allowing the first, second and third enabling signals to pass to the converter.

24. In a subscription television network for transmitting subscription television program channels from a central station to a plurality of remotely located subscription television receiver sites, a system comprising:

a television converter at each site for allowing a program on a selected one of the subscription television program channels to pass in response to an enabling signal;

a channel selector at each site for developing a channel code representative of a selected program channel;

a channel circuit at each site coupled to said channel selector for developing channel selection data in response to the channel code;

a first circuit at each site coupled to said channel selector for generating a request signal in response to the selection of a predetermined program on a predetermined program channel;

first means at each site coupled to said first circuit for transmitting the request signal to the central station;

second means at the central station being responsive to a request signal from a site for developing and transmitting control data to that site if the subscriber is authorized to receive the predetermined program channel;

third means at each site selectively responsive to control data specifically transmitted thereto from the central station for developing channel enabling data for the predetermined program channel; and

fourth means at each site coupled to said channel circuit, said third means and said converter for generating the enabling signal to allow said converter to pass the predetermined program in response to the coincident occurrence of substantially identical channel enabling and channel selection data, said fourth means including a video register for storing said channel enabling and selection data.

25. In a subscription television network including a central station for transmitting a plurality of subscription television program channels to a plurality of remotely located subscription television receiver sites and for selectively receiving signals therefrom, a system at each site comprising:

a television converter for allowing a program on a selected one of the subscription television program channels to pass in response to an enabling signal;

a channel selector for developing a channel code representative of a selected program channel;

a channel circuit coupled to said channel selector for developing channel selection data in response to the channel code;

a first circuit coupled to said channel selector for generating a request signal in response to the selection of a predetermined program channel containing a predetermined program;

transmission means coupled to said first circuit for transmitting the request signal to the central station, the central station being responsive to the request signal from a site for developing and transmitting control data to that site if that site is authorized to receive the predetermined program channel;

first means responsive to control data specifically transmitted thereto from the central station for developing channel enabling data for the predetermined program channel, said first means including a video register for storing said channel enabling data; and

second means, coupled to said channel circuit, said first means and said converter, being responsive to the coincident occurrence of substantially identical channel enabling and channel selection data for generating the enabling signal to allow said converter to pass the predetermined program.

26. A subscriber type television system having a plurality of channels for carrying television programs to remote subscriber terminals, comprising in combination:

a central television program gathering facility including a computer controlled processing center;

a cable distribution network; and

a plurality of subscriber terminals, each connected to a television receiver, said terminals being linked by means of the cable distribution network to the processing center, said system having means for providing at least one of the following modes of operation, consisting of;

first means for providing preview enabling commands to the terminals so as to enable any of said terminals to preview any of the programs for a predetermined period of time free of charge;

second means for providing video enable commands to the particular one of the terminals making demand upon any of the programs restricted for viewing by a particular subscriber class and transmitting the restricted program on a pay basis wherever authorized, or inhibiting transmission of the demanded restricted program if unauthorized to receive same;

third means for providing a video enabling command to the particular one of the terminals making demand for transmission of any of the non-restricted pay programs and billing the demanding subscriber for the channel selected;

fourth means for providing any of the subscriber terminals access to any of the chaNnels allocated for communication of non-subscription television programs for viewing on the television receiver of the particular subscriber requesting same, free of charge; and

means for controlling and storing channel enabling data responsive to any one of the first, second and third means so as to enable subscriber switching between the channels carrying the programs purchased without repetition by the subscriber of purchase requests therefor.

27. The invention as stated in claim 26, wherein the means for providing video enabling commands being accomplished without the aid of computer control.

28. The invention as stated in claim 26, wherein each of the terminals includes a formatter and transmitter unit for internally combining a pay television request signal and channel request coded signal with a generated station address code signal.

29. The invention as stated in claim 26, wherein each one of the subscriber terminals comprises:

a logic control circuit responsive to enabling, disabling and channel data;

a video register responsive to outputs from the logic control circuit;

a subscription channel decoder responsive to channel code signals; and

a channel comparator responsive to outputs from the video register and the subscription channel decoder for providing subscription enabling outputs therefrom.

30. The invention as stated in claim 29, including logic means responsive to the subscription channel decoder for enabling reception of programs in the non-restricted mode.

31. The invention as stated in claim 30, including a formatter and transmitter, and means responsive to channel code inputs for providing a pay television request signal to the formatter and transmitter.

32. A method in a closed circuit system composed of a central facility for gathering television programs and having a computer processing center thereat for processing and transmitting said programs to a plural number of remote subscriber terminals, each equipped with a television receiver, comprising the steps of:

initiating a coded demand by any of the terminals upon the computer processing center to release any of said programs for preview at any of the terminals for a predetermined period of time; and

verifying the coded demand by the computer processing center to determine authority of subscriber terminal to make same, and if authorized unscrambling and transmitting the demanded program to the terminal requesting same free of charge for said predetermined period of time.

33. The invention as stated in claim 32, including the further steps of:

initiating demand at any of the terminals for viewing a preselected pay program restricted to a particular class of subscribers;

verifying authority of subscriber to receive the particular restricted program; and

transmitting the preselected pay program for said viewing upon confirmation of said authority.

34. The invention as stated in claim 32, including the further steps of:

initiating a demand at any of the terminals for viewing a preselected pay program; and

transmitting the preselected pay program for said viewing and charging subscriber therefor.

35. The invention as stated in claim 32, including the further steps of:

initiating a demand for viewing any non-subscription television programs by any of said terminals; and

enabling the terminals initiating said demand to receive the non-subscription programs free of charge.