Pay broadcasting system

• US 5,504,933 A
• Filed: 10/26/1993
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intarsia Software LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Corporation
• Inventors: Saito, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/143,912
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.3, 348/1, 348/3, 348/4, 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 380/9, 380/10, 380/20, 380/21
• US Class Current: 725/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/76 Wired systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/15 on receiving information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/94 Telephonic networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/84
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63345 by transmitting keys key distribution for secret or secure communication H04L9/08; network support of key management H04L63/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

A system for the so-called "pay-per-program" is provided for viewing individual program on pay basis without signing a comprehensive contract. In response to a request for viewing a pay program executed via public telephone line from an applicant for viewing, a charging center sends a viewing permit code for viewing a pay program to a data communication device and collects a fee for the pay program. Upon receipt of the viewing permit code, a receiving device offers the pay program according to the viewing permit code. The broadcasting program is scrambled by three modes of fixed, selective and change. The request for viewing is executed in three modes by specifying time, program number and temporary number. As the viewing permit code, one of three modes is adopted: decode data, non-opened program number or decode data number.

Claims

1. A pay broadcasting system, comprising a broadcasting station and a charging center, whereby:

said broadcasting station transmits an open program number together with a broadcasting program scrambled by a scramble pattern changed for each program;

said charging center sends a use permit code for using a pay program in response to a request for using executed through a communication line by specifying said open program number and also collects a fee for said pay program; and

a receiving device descrambles a received pay program according to said use permit code upon receipt of said use permit code.

2. The pay broadcasting system of claim 1 wherein said using said pay program is viewing said pay program, and said use permit code is a viewing permit code.

3. The pay broadcasting system of claim 2 wherein a decode data is sent as said viewing permit code.

4. The pay broadcasting system of claim 2 wherein a decode data and said open program number are sent as said viewing permit code.

5. The pay broadcasting system of claim 1 wherein said using said pay program is distributing said pay program, and said use permit code is a distribution permit code.

6. The pay broadcasting system of claim 5 wherein a decode data is sent as said distribution permit code.

7. The pay broadcasting system of claim 5 wherein a decode data and said open program number are sent as said distribution permit code.