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Program blocking method for use in direct broadcast satellite system

  • US 4,685,131 A
  • Filed: 03/11/1985
  • Issued: 08/04/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for preventing the display of selected programs by particular receiving units for use in an impulse pay-per-view television signal distribution system of the type comprising a transmission station and a plurality of receiving units, each receiving unit being capable of displaying one or more programs selected by the user upon manipulation of input means and including an authorization memory containing information as to programs previously authorized for display and a blocking memory containing previously provided information as to programs to be blocked from display, the method comprising the steps of:

  • generating a broadcast signal including a plurality of programs and a program designation associated with each of the programs, the receiving unit receiving the broadcast signal and, upon manipulation by the user of the input means to select a program for display, accessing the blocking memory and comparing the designation associated with the selected program with the contents thereof to determine if the selected program is to be blocked from display, preventing the display of the selected program if the program is to be blocked from display;

    if the selected program is not to be blocked, accessing the authorization memory and comparing the designation associated with the selected program with the contents of the authorization memory to determine whether the selected program has been previously authorized for display, and preventing the display thereof if the selected program is not previously authorized for display; and

    , if not previously authorized for display, displaying the selected program if it is not to be blocked, upon further manipulation of the input means.

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