System and controller for control and distribution of audio and video signals

• US 6,574,798 B1
• Filed: 04/12/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sasktel
• Original Assignee: Sasktel
• Inventors: Simpson, Alan, Cruder, Oliver, Newton, Shane D., Johns, Dennis E., Bradley, Graham C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US09/290,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 725/110, 725/4, 725/78, 725/82, 725/83, 725/104, 725/98, 725/99, 725/100, 725/117, 725/120, 725/122, 725/139, 725/131, 725/151, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/734
• US Class Current: 725/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• 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 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• 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 7/17354 in an intermediate station common to a plurality of user terminals

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a system and controller for distribution of audio/video signals on a pay-for-use basis, to a customer in a controlled environment such as a motel, hotel, bus station, bar or apartment building. The system includes a global authorization computer which transmits authorization to the customer over a telephone line. The customer has a telephone line/television control interface which receives the dual-tone multi-frequency authorization and allows the customer to select the authorized channel for a defined length of time. Without authorization, the telephone line/television control interface will deny the customer'"'"'s attempt to tune his television to a pay-for-use channel. When the authorized time expires, the telephone line/television control interface tunes the customer'"'"'s television to a non-pay-for-use channel. Additional options and embodiments are also presented.

Claims

1. A television system comprising:

a television set having a video signal input;

a television appliance being electrically connected to said video signal input of said television set;

a hand-held remote control device being operable to transmit a tuning signal representing a selected channel;

said television appliance being operable to;

receive said tuning signal representing said selected channel; and

transmit a video signal to said television set via said electrical connection at the frequency corresponding to said selected channel; and

said television set being operable to;

receive said tuning signal representing said selected channel; and

receive and display said video signal from said television appliance at the frequency corresponding to said selected channel.

2. A television system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said television appliance includes a memory storing a plurality of remote control protocols for decoding said tuning signal and is further operable to allow selection of one of said remote control protocols, whereby a User can select a remote control protocol compatible with that of said television set.

3. A television system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said television appliance is further operable to:

receive a broadband video signal and to demodulate said selected channel to an intermediate frequency signal; and

modulate said intermediate frequency signal to a video signal at the frequency of said selected channel.

4. A system for distributing video signals comprising:

at least one customer location having;

a television set having a video signal input;

a telephone line/television control interface being electrically connected to said video signal input of said television set; and

a hand-held remote control device being operable to transmit a tuning signal representing a selected channel;

a local source of video signals;

a global authorization computer;

a local video signal distribution network interconnecting said local source of video signals with said telephone line/television control interface;

a telecommunications network for interconnecting said global authorization computer with said telephone line/television control interface;

said television set including means for receiving said tuning signal and tuning said television set to said selected channel;

said global authorization computer including means for issuing an authorization packet to said telephone line/television control interface via said telecommunications network; and

said telephone line/television control interface including;

means for receiving said tuning signal from said hand-held remote control device;

means for receiving an authorization packet authorizing viewing of a pay-for-use channel, from said global authorization computer via said telephone network; and

controlling means responsive to said selected channel being said pay-for-use channel and said authorization to view said pay-for-use channel being received by passing said selected channel at the transmitted frequency of said selected channel.

5. A system for distributing video signals as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for issuing an authorization packet to said telephone line/television control interface via said telecommunications network comprises means for issuing an authorization packet in dual-tone multi-frequency format containing authorized user room identification, authorized channel and authorized period of time to said telephone line/television control interface via said telecommunications network.

6. A system for distributing video signals as claimed in claim 5 wherein said controlling means comprises controlling means responsive to said selected channel being said pay-for-use channel, said authorization to tune to said pay-for-use channel being received and said authorized user room identification corresponding to an internally coded room identification, by passing said selected channel at the transmitted frequency of said selected channel.

7. A system for distributing video signals as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

said local source of video signals is located in an institutional environment including said at least one customer location, with means for receiving billing information from said global authorization computer via said telecommunications network; and

said global authorization computer comprises means for transmitting said billing information to an administrative office of said institutional environment via said telecommunications network.

8. A system for distributing video signals as claimed in claim 7 wherein said at least one customer location has a telephone connected to said telecommunications network and said global authorization computer further comprises:

means for identifying said institutional environment of said at least one customer;

means for prompting said at least one customer for a room identification via said telephone and said telecommunications network;

means for receiving said room identification;

means for prompting said at least one customer for a video signal selection said telephone and said telecommunications network;

means for receiving said desired video signal selection; and

means for transmitting billing information to said administrative office of said institutional environment.