System for accessing and paying for amenities using a telephone
DCFirst Claim
1. Apparatus for accessing and paying for video entertainment amenities by a user at an amenity location connected to a pay-per-view (PPV) system, the apparatus comprising:
- a telephone for entering billing information and amenity identification information;
a central distribution computer (CDC) connected to said telephone and said PPV system for storing and processing said entered billing and amenity identification information to facilitate the payment for said amenity and presentation of said amenity by said PPV system, said CDC including a store-and-forward switch (SFS) connectable to said telephone for storing and processing said entered information, and a graphics circuit connected to said SFS for generating user prompts to said PPV system responsive to said SFS processing, said CDC determining whether a prompt is to be initiated and determining the content of the prompt, thereby providing an interactive session between said PPV system and said telephone via the SFS; and
a billing data base connected to said CDC for storing entered billing information received by said CDC.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System for enabling user access to and payment for amenities using a telephone is disclosed, The system includes a telephone for entering billing and amenity identification information connected to a central distribution computer for storing and processing entered billing and amenity selection information to facilitate payment for and presentation of the selected amenity, A pay-per-view system is connected to the central distribution computer for displaying the amenity, The central distribution computer comprises a store-and-forward switch connectable to the telephone for storing and processing the entered information and for issuing audio user prompts via the phone and a graphics circuit for generating graphic user prompts and/or amenity promotional information via the pay-per-view system. The user prompts are generated in response to the processing and are used to assist the user in selecting and paying for an amenity, A billing data base is connected to the central distribution computer for validating entered billing information entered and returning an authorization signal to the central distribution computer, The central distribution computer may also be connected to a computerized property management system for storing billing information based on an unique identification code of the amenity location of the telephone and to a telecommunications network for enabling access to remote billing services and remote amenities.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. Apparatus for accessing and paying for video entertainment amenities by a user at an amenity location connected to a pay-per-view (PPV) system, the apparatus comprising:
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a telephone for entering billing information and amenity identification information; a central distribution computer (CDC) connected to said telephone and said PPV system for storing and processing said entered billing and amenity identification information to facilitate the payment for said amenity and presentation of said amenity by said PPV system, said CDC including a store-and-forward switch (SFS) connectable to said telephone for storing and processing said entered information, and a graphics circuit connected to said SFS for generating user prompts to said PPV system responsive to said SFS processing, said CDC determining whether a prompt is to be initiated and determining the content of the prompt, thereby providing an interactive session between said PPV system and said telephone via the SFS; and a billing data base connected to said CDC for storing entered billing information received by said CDC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus connected to a telecommunications network for providing amenities to a user at an amenity location on a television connected to a pay-per-view (PPV) system, the apparatus comprising:
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a telephone connectable to said network for entering billing information and amenity identification information and for accessing remote amenity or billing validation services; a central distribution computer (CDC) connected to said telephone and said PPV system for storing and processing said entered billing and amenity identification information to facilitate the payment for said amenity and presentation of said amenity by said PPV system, said CDC including a store-and-forward switch (SFS) connectable to said telephone for storing and processing said entered billing and amenity identification information and a graphics circuit connected to said SFS for generating user prompts with said PPV system responsive to said SFS processing said CDC determining whether a prompt is to be initiated and determining the content of the prompt, thereby providing an interactive session between said PPV system and said telephone via the SFS; and a billing data base connected to said CDC for validating entered billing information received by said CDC, wherein said data base returns an authorization signal to said CDC upon receipt from said CDC of valid billing information, said CDC preventing said amenity presentation by said PPV system until said authorization signal is returned. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. Apparatus connected to a telecommunications network for providing amenities to a user at an amenity location on a television connected to a pay-per-view (PPV) system, the apparatus comprising:
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a telephone connectable to said network for entering billing information and amenity identification information and for accessing remote amenity or billing validating services; a central distribution computer (CDC) connected to said telephone and said PPV system for storing and processing said entered billing and amenity identification information to facilitate the payment for said amenity and presentation of said amenity by said PPV system, said CDC including means connectable to said telephone for storing and processing said entered information, and means connected to said storing and processing means for generating user prompts with said PPV system responsive to said processing, said CDC determining whether a prompt is to be initiated and determining the content of the prompt, thereby providing an interactive session between said PPV system and said telephone via the SFS; and a billing data base connected to said CDC for validating entered billing information received by said CDC, wherein said data base returns an authorization signal to said CDC upon receipt from said CDC of valid billing information, said CDC preventing said amenity presentation by said PPV system until said authorization signal is returned. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method for accessing and paying for video entertainment amenities by a user at an amenity location connected to a pay-per-view (PPV) system, the method comprising:
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entering billing information and amenity identification information using a telephone; storing and processing said entered information to facilitate payment for and presentation of said amenity; responsive to said processing, displaying graphic user prompts to said user with said PPV system, said PPV system determining whether a prompt is to be initiated and determining the content of the prompt, thereby providing an interactive session between said PPV system and said telephone; and validating said entered billing information. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification