Shared-price custom video rentals via interactive TV
First Claim
1. An interactive wireless video data exchange network, comprising in combinationa plurality of separated subscriber stations located in different geographic areas having facilities for viewing video programs,a video program storage and processing center for providing selected unscheduled video programs to individual ones of the subscriber stations for viewing,distribution means for transmitting said video programs over a satellite network between said program center and said subscriber stations in a format for storage at a requesting subscriber station,an interactive network processing center for interactively communicating with the subscriber stations and the program center, andinteractive communication facilities at the subscriber stations comprising a television viewer including means for interactively processing and implementing wireless transactions with the program center and storing selected video programs for private viewing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Movies and like video programs are distributed electronically from a program storage and processing center in encrypted format over a satellite channel upon custom order for private viewing of one paying subscriber or a small group of subscribers. Thus, charges may be shared to lower the processing, transmission and royalty costs involved for custom rental of unscheduled programs available from a large storage library facility. The transactions for ordering, paying and receiving a decryption key are made over a two-way interactive wireless satellite network in communication with a nationwide network of subscribers and the video program storage and distribution center. Software controlled subscriber stations permit the monitoring and control of the private viewing conditions to meet various copyright and recording criteria. The transmission is preferably in digital format, and thus may be easily stored in encrypted format for a single private viewing session at a time chosen by the subscriber. The interactive network provides optimal communication of catalog choices, pricing, delivery conditions, automated storage, viewing schedules, payment, confirmation of orders, and conformation to change in business procedures or delivery conditions. Thus, special purpose single-shot local control software may be downloaded from an interactive network processing center to the ordering subscriber station for implementing an order for a private viewing session of a desired movie or other video program.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An interactive wireless video data exchange network, comprising in combination
a plurality of separated subscriber stations located in different geographic areas having facilities for viewing video programs, a video program storage and processing center for providing selected unscheduled video programs to individual ones of the subscriber stations for viewing, distribution means for transmitting said video programs over a satellite network between said program center and said subscriber stations in a format for storage at a requesting subscriber station, an interactive network processing center for interactively communicating with the subscriber stations and the program center, and interactive communication facilities at the subscriber stations comprising a television viewer including means for interactively processing and implementing wireless transactions with the program center and storing selected video programs for private viewing.
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13. The method of releasing video programs from a video storage and distribution center for private viewing of a subscriber, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting for private viewing from said distribution center over a satellite broadcast channel encrypted video programs having unique encryption keys for each private viewing, and transmitting from the distribution center over a wireless two way interactive network channel coupled with an authorized subscriber station the unique key for decrypting the broadcast video program together with order confirmation data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification