CATV Pay system
First Claim
1. A two-way CATV system comprising a central equipment unit, a plurality of television receiver sets each disposed with a terminal unit and a wired two-way transmission line provided between the central equipment and each of the terminal units, in which said central equipment unit comprises means for generating a television signal, means for inputting a read out instruction for viewing charge to each of the terminal units and outputting the viewing charge in a visible form in accordance with a viewing charge signal supplied thereto, means for mixing the television signal from the generating means with the read out instruction signal for the viewing charge from an input/output means and means for transmitting the signal mixed in the mixing means to the transmission line and extracting the charge signal sent thereto via the transmission line and supplying the same to the input/output means, and wherein each of said terminal units comprises means for extracting the read out instruction signal for the viewing charge from the mixed signal supplied thereto via the transmission line and transmitting the viewing charge signal supplied thereto to the transmission line, selection means for selecting the television signal to be received by a corresponding television receiver set, means for measuring the time period during which a pay television program is selected by the selection means and calculating the viewing charge corresponding to the time period, memory means for storing the charge data signal calculated in the calculation means, means for reading out the viewing charge signal stored in the memory means and supplying the same to the extraction means when the read out for the viewing charge is demanded by the read out instruction signal for the viewing charge extracted in the extraction means, and means for sending the television signal that is selected by the selection means among the television signals supplied from the extraction means to the corresponding television receiver set in a receivable form.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-way CATV system comprising a central equipment, a plurality of television receiver sets each disposed with a terminal unit and a wired two-way transmission channel provided between the central equipment and each of the terminal units.
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Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A two-way CATV system comprising a central equipment unit, a plurality of television receiver sets each disposed with a terminal unit and a wired two-way transmission line provided between the central equipment and each of the terminal units, in which said central equipment unit comprises means for generating a television signal, means for inputting a read out instruction for viewing charge to each of the terminal units and outputting the viewing charge in a visible form in accordance with a viewing charge signal supplied thereto, means for mixing the television signal from the generating means with the read out instruction signal for the viewing charge from an input/output means and means for transmitting the signal mixed in the mixing means to the transmission line and extracting the charge signal sent thereto via the transmission line and supplying the same to the input/output means, and wherein each of said terminal units comprises means for extracting the read out instruction signal for the viewing charge from the mixed signal supplied thereto via the transmission line and transmitting the viewing charge signal supplied thereto to the transmission line, selection means for selecting the television signal to be received by a corresponding television receiver set, means for measuring the time period during which a pay television program is selected by the selection means and calculating the viewing charge corresponding to the time period, memory means for storing the charge data signal calculated in the calculation means, means for reading out the viewing charge signal stored in the memory means and supplying the same to the extraction means when the read out for the viewing charge is demanded by the read out instruction signal for the viewing charge extracted in the extraction means, and means for sending the television signal that is selected by the selection means among the television signals supplied from the extraction means to the corresponding television receiver set in a receivable form.
- 9. A two-way CATV pay system having a central equipment unit, a plurality of television receiver sets each equipped with a terminal unit and a two-way transmission line for connecting said plurality of terminal units to said central equipment unit in a wired system, wherein the central equipment unit comprises repeater means for repeating a television broadcast band signal, transmitter means for transmitting a local television broadcast band signal, a central control unit, downstream signal sender means for sending instruction data from the central control unit to each of the terminal units, upstream signal receiver means for receiving upstream viewing charge data signal sent from each of the terminal units only upon collection of the viewing charge, mixer means for mixing the broadcast television signal from the repeater means, the local broadcast television signal from the transmitter means for a local broadcast television signal and downstream instruction data from the downstream signal sender means and transmitting them to the two-way transmission line, branching filter means for filtering the upstream viewing charge data sent from each of the terminal units and sending them to the upstream signal receiver means and input/output means for supplying instruction data to the central control unit and printing out the received upstream viewing charge data, and wherein each of said terminal units comprises mixer and branching filter means connected to the two-way transmission line for filtering the broadcast television and local broadcast television signals and the downstream instruction data from the central equipment and mixing the upstream viewing charge data signal sent from the terminal unit to the transmission line, terminal counter and control means for counting the utilization time in the terminal unit, calculating the viewing charge and controlling the terminal unit, downstream signal receiver means for receiving the downstream instruction data signal filtered in the mixer and branching filter means and supplying the same to the terminal counter and control unit means, upward signal sender means, controlled by the terminal counter and control means when the instruction data demanding the viewing charge is obtained by the downstream instruction data signal, for sending the upstream viewing charge data only upon demand of the viewing charge, channel selection means controlled by the terminal counter and control means for allowing a subscriber to select desired broadcast wave signals, converter controlled by the terminal counter and control means for converting one of the broadcast television signal and the local broadcast television signal filtered from the mixer and branching filter means into one of the channels of the television receiver set, non-volatile memory means controlled by the terminal counter and control means for storing and maintaining the viewing charge data calculated in the counter and control means, viewing charge display means controlled by the terminal counter and control means for numerically indicating the viewing charge data and address setter means connected to the terminal counter and control means for setting an address inherent to each of the terminal units, wherein the downstream instruction data signal and the upstream viewing charge data signal is transferred in outline system between the central equipment unit and each of the terminal units, the viewing charge data being maintained and displayed in the terminal unit in the case where the transmission of the viewing charge data signal is disabled.
Specification