Television coding system with channel level identification
First Claim
1. A converter/decoder for use in subscription TV including means for converting any input TV channel to a predetermined output channel, decoding means connected to said converting means for decoding a selected input channel after conversion to said output channel, enabling means for said decoding means, each coded TV signal including data describing the program level of the TV signal, said enabling means further including authorization data receiving means for receiving data at a frequency other than that of a TV signal, said enabling means including means for comparing the TV signal program level data with the authorization data and to enable said decoding means when there is correspondence therebetween.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A converter/decoder for use in subscription television includes means for converting any input TV channel to a predetermined output channel. Decoding means are connected to the converter at its output for decoding the selected output channel. The decoder is enabled in response to data carried on the TV signal which describes the program level of the particular selected channel. The means for enabling the decoder includes a comparison circuit which compares the television signal program level data with authorization data and performs an enabling function when there is correspondence between the two data entries. The authorization data may be received by the converter/decoder simultaneously with the program level data, but at a frequency other than that of the television signal, for example, at a frequency in the FM band.
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Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A converter/decoder for use in subscription TV including means for converting any input TV channel to a predetermined output channel, decoding means connected to said converting means for decoding a selected input channel after conversion to said output channel, enabling means for said decoding means, each coded TV signal including data describing the program level of the TV signal, said enabling means further including authorization data receiving means for receiving data at a frequency other than that of a TV signal, said enabling means including means for comparing the TV signal program level data with the authorization data and to enable said decoding means when there is correspondence therebetween.
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5. A method of authorizing the presentation of electrically transmitted intelligence to separate subscribers including the steps of:
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(a) transmitting an RF intelligence signal, which signal includes data as to the classification of said intelligence signal, (b) transmitting, at a frequency distinct from said RF signal and along the some signal path as said RF signal, an authorization signal, which includes data as to the type of signal authorized for particular subscribers, (c) comparing the authorization data and classification data, and (d) presenting said transmitted intelligence in an understandable form upon correspondence between said separately transmitted classification data and authorization data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method of authorizing the presentation of a coded television signal including the steps of:
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(a) transmitting the coded TV signal with classification data superimposed thereon to a subscriber, (b) separately transmitting, at a frequency other than that of a TV signal and along the same signal path as said TV signal, authorization data to a subscriber, (c) comparing the separately transmitted classification and authorization data and authorizing decoding of said television signal upon correspondence therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification